Nocardia infection causing non-healing surgical wounds: A case series from Bangladesh

• Published in: International journal of infectious diseases Vol. 110; pp. 272 - 278
• Main Authors: Lutfor, Afzalunnessa Binte, Afroz, Samira, Mahmud, Asif Mujtaba, Selim, Tasmiah, Akhter, Taskina, Sultana, Tamanna, Taskeen, Sadia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: diagnosis; drug resistance; Nocardia; Non-healing surgical wounds; prolonged sufferings; prolonged sufferings; diagnosis; Nocardia; drug resistance; Non-healing surgical wounds
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.028

•Non-healing wounds following surgery or trauma are suggestive of Nocardiosis.•Multiple discharging sinuses around a surgical wound indicates Nocardiosis.•Granulomatous lesions need exploration of Nocardiosis prior to anti-TB treatment.•Specimen collection after antimicrobial stoppage is vital.•Special attention during microscopy and culture is necessary. Nocardia can be introduced accidentally causing non-healing surgical wounds. From February 2017 to January 2021 samples from wounds were collected. Nocardia identification and susceptibility testing were carried out by standard procedure. Seventeen (35.4 %) Nocardia spp. and 20 other pathogens (41.7%) were recovered by culture. Drug susceptibility among Nocardia was >70% to amikacin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, levofloxacin, linezolid, and imipenem, 47% to cephalosporins and 41% to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Infections with Nocardia spp. should be considered in non-healing surgical wounds.