Report of Human Nocardiosis in Italy between 1993 and 1997

• Published in: European journal of epidemiology Vol. 17; no. 11; pp. 1019 - 1022
• Main Authors: Farina, C., Boiron, P., Ferrari, I., Provost, F., Goglio, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.01.2001; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Bacteria; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Epidemiology; Gram-positive bacteria; Hospitals; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Italy - epidemiology; Kidney transplants; Kidneys; Laboratories; Localization; Lungs; Lymphoma; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Miscellaneous; Nocardia; Nocardia - classification; Nocardia - drug effects; Nocardia - isolation & purification; Nocardia Infections - diagnosis; Nocardia Infections - drug therapy; Nocardia Infections - epidemiology; Nocardia Infections - microbiology; Pathogens; Retrospective Studies; Species Specificity; Specimens; Transplantation; Italy; Europe; France; Infection; Case study; Human; Nocardiosis; Actinomycosis; Bacteriosis; Diagnosis; Sanitary surveillance; Epidemiology; Public health
• ISSN: 0393-2990; 1573-7284
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1020010826300

During a 5-year period, from 1993 to 1997, nocardial infection was diagnosed in 26 patients admitted to hospitals in 11 cities in Italy. Pathogens were identified as Nocardia asteroides in 18 cases, as N. farcinica in five cases, as N. nova in two and as N. brasiliensis in one case. All cases were difficult to diagnose, as usually it happens with this disease: physicians have to be alert to suspect nocardial infection so that appropriate therapy can be early given. This is the second retrospective report on Nocardia spp. infection conducted in Italy, suggesting the utility to organise a permanent network for a national survey system for nocardiosis.