Abstract Background Nocardiosis primarily affects immunocompromised hosts and those with chronic pulmonary disease but can also occur in immunocompetent patients. Predictors of dissemination and its role in long-term mortality remain unclear. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults with nocardiosis diagnosed from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2023. Patients were categorized into three groups: immunocompromised, immunocompetent with chronic lung disease, and immunocompetent without chronic lung disease. We evaluated risk factors associated with dissemination at the time of diagnosis and predictors of one-year mortality. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors for dissemination. Cox regression assessed predictors of one-year mortality. Results Among 232 patients, 44 (19.0%) had disseminated infection and 36 (15.5%) died within one-year. Dissemination was more common among patients who were immunocompromised (odds ratio (OR 6.26, 95% confidence interval CI 2.26–20.53) or immunocompetent without chronic lung disease (OR 5.09, 95% CI 1.75–17.15). Lymphopenia and infection with N. farcinica were also independently associated with dissemination. Dissemination was not associated with mortality overall (Hazard ratio HR 1.58, p=0.222), though interaction analysis revealed that dissemination was significantly associated with one-year mortality only in immunocompetent patients with chronic lung disease (HR 9.43, 95% CI 1.73–51.52). Conclusions Immunocompromised patients and those without chronic lung disease are at increased risk for disseminated nocardiosis. While dissemination alone is not predictive of one-year mortality overall, it is directly associated with mortality among immunocompetent patients with chronic lung disease. These findings highlight the need for tailored prognostic assessment and management in this subgroup.
Brizneda et al. (Fri,) studied this question.