Understanding the Risk Factors and Pathogenesis of Disseminated Nocardiosis in Immunocompromised Patients

Nocardia is a genus of aerobic, Gram-positive, partially acid-fast, filamentous bacilli notoriously known for causing multisystemic infections in immunocompromised individuals. Notably, this genus of bacteria commonly infects the pleural and central nervous system, leading to pneumonia and brain abscesses, respectively. Our patient is a 71-year-old female who initially presented to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath and altered mental status. Imaging revealed multiple enhancing brain lesions, a pleural effusion, and a paraspinal abscess, which upon aspiration and culture demonstrated Nocardia farcinica/kroppenstedtii. The patient underwent antibiotic treatment, including intravenous (IV) imipenem and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), before being transitioned to oral TMP-SMX and amoxicillin/clavulanate. This case demonstrates the importance of diagnosing nocardiosis acutely and treating it appropriately.