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An infection which usually occurs in patients with underlying illhealth,e.g. diabetes,carcinoma,Hodgkin disease and leukaemias,and often involves the maxillary sinus witha black eschar on the nasal surfaces.
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What are the causes of nocardiosis?
Nocardiosis is caused by a bacterium of the Nocardia species--usually N. asteroides, an organism that is normally found in the soil. The incubation period is not known, but is probably several weeks.
What is the treatment for nocardiosis?
Treatment of nocardiosis includes bed rest and high doses of medication for a period of 12 to 18 months, including sulfonamide drugs or a combination of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra). If the patient doesn't respond.
What is the prognosis for a patient with nocardiosis?
Nocardiosis is a serious disease with a high mortality rate. If it has been diagnosed early and caught before spreading to the brain, the prognosis is better. Even with appropriate treatment, however, the death rate is still 50%.
What complications may occur with nocardiosis?
In about one-third of patients, the infection spreads from the blood into the brain, causing brain abscesses. This complication can trigger a range of symptoms including severe headache, confusion, disorientation, dizziness, nausea and.
How is nocardiosis diagnosed?
Nocardia is not easily identified from cultures of sputum or discharge. A doctor can diagnose the condition using special staining techniques and taking a thorough medical history. Lung biopsies or x rays also may be required.
Can you list some types of bacterial diseases in animals?
Actinomycosis, Bartonellosis, Bordetella, Brusellosis, Campylobacter, Chlamydia, Clostridium, Colilbacillosis, Ehrlichiosis, Helicobacter, Hemobartonella, Lyme, Leptospirosis, Mysobacteria, Mycoplasma, Nocardiosis, Plague, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Salmon Poisoning, Salmonellosis, Streotococcosis, Staphylococcosis, Tularemia, and Tyzzer's Disease.
What is a acid fast disease?
Some diseases are leprosy ( M. leprae), tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), and nocardiosis ( N. brasiliensis, N. asteroides). The acid fast stain is important in identifying bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium and Nocardia.M. tuberculosis
What is the practical importance in a medical lab of the acid-fast stain?
By this technique, we can diffentiate the acid fast and non acid- fast bacteria. The non acid-fast bacteria are M.tuberculosis and N.asteriodes. They are the causative agents for tuberculosis and nocardiosis respectively. The acid fast staining or the Ziel- Nielsen's staining is the only procedure to find out the above mentioned pathogens.
Nocardia infection?
DefinitionNocardia infection is a rare disorder affecting the lungs, brain, or skin. It occurs mainly in people with weakened immune systems.Alternative NamesNocardiosisCauses, incidence, and risk factorsNocardia infection is a bacterial infection that usually starts in the lungs. It then tends to spread to other organ systems -- most often the brain and the skin. It may also involve the kidneys, the joints, the heart, the eyes, and the bones.Nocardia bacteria are found in soil around the world. You can get the disease by inhaling contaminated dust or if soil containing nocardia bacteria gets into an open wound.While individuals with normal immune systems can get this infection, the main risk factors for getting nocardiosis are a weakened immune system or chronic lung disease. People on long-term steroid therapy, those with cancer, organ or bone marrow transplants, or HIV/AIDS are at risk.SymptomsSymptoms vary and depend on the organs involved.Lungs (pulmonary nocardiosis): Chest pain when breathing (may occur suddenly or slowly)Coughing up bloodFeversNight sweatsWeight lossBrain (cerebral nocardiosis): FeverHeadacheLoss of neurological function (depending on the part of the brain affected)Skin: May become chronically infected (mycetoma) and develop draining tractsUlcers or nodules with infection sometimes spreading along lymph nodesSome people with nocardia infection have no symptoms.Signs and testsNocardia infection should be suspected in people with lung, brain, or skin symptoms if they also have a condition or conditions that weaken the immune system.Nocardiosis is diagnosed using tests that identify the bacteria. Depending on the part of the body infected, testing may involve taking a tissue sample by:Brain biopsyBronchoscopyLung biopsySkin biopsySputum cultureTreatmentLong-term antibiotic therapy (usually with sulfonamides) for 6 months to a year (or longer depending on the individual and the parts of the body involved) is needed to treat nocardia. Frequently, chronic suppressive therapy (long-term, low-dose antibiotic therapy) is needed.In addition, patients who develop abscesses caused by this infection may need surgery to completely drain the abscesses.Expectations (prognosis)How well a person does depends on the parts if the body involved. There is a significant death rate if more than one site is involved (disseminated nocardiosis). In addition, an individual's immune system plays a large role in how well they will do.ComplicationsComplications of nocardial infections vary depending on what parts of the body are involved. Certain lung infections may lead to scarring and chronic shortness of breath. Skin infections may lead to scarring or disfigurement. Brain abscesses may lead to loss of neurological function.Calling your health care providerNotify your medical provider if you have any of the symptoms described above. These are non-specific symptoms that can have many causes other than nocardial infections. If you have lung, skin, or brain symptoms -- particularly if you have a weakened immune system -- tell your doctor. You will need to be evaluated for several potential infections, including nocardia.ReferencesSorrell TC, Mitchell DH, Iredell JR. Nocardia species. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005: chap 252.Southwick FS. Nocardiosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 351.
What does Co-Trimoxazole Tablets do?
Co-trimoxazole is used to treat a small number of serious infections but serious side effects limit its use, they are mainly used for;Chronic bronchitisEar infectionsInfection of the bladder or tubes that pass urine (urinary tract infection)Prevention of pneumonia caused by the bacterium pneumocystis carinii (PCP). The risk of this infection is increased in patients with decreased immune system function.Treatment of pneumonia caused by the bacterium pneumocystis carinii (PCP)
Pulmonary nocardiosis?
DefinitionPulmonary nocardiosis is an infection of the lung with the bacteria, Nocardia asteroides.Alternative NamesNocardiosis - pulmonaryCauses, incidence, and risk factorsNocardia infection develops when you breathe in (inhale) the bacteria. The infection causes pneumonia -like symptoms. The infection can spread to any part of the body.People at highest risk for nocardia infection are those with a weakened immune system. This includes people who have:Been taking steroid medicines for a long timeHad an organ transplantHIVOther people at risk include those with chronic lung problems related to smoking, emphysema, or other infections such as tuberculosis.SymptomsEntire body Fever (comes and goes)General ill feeling (malaise)Night sweats, excessive sweating at nightGastrointestinal system NauseaSwollen liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly)Unintentional weight lossVomitingLungs and airways Breathing gets harder and harder (pulmonary insufficiency)Chest pain not due to heart problemsCoughing up bloodCough with mucusRapid breathingShortness of breathMuscles and joints Joint painNervous system Change in mental stateConfusionDizzinessHeadacheSeizuresSkin Skin rashes or lumpsSkin sores (abscesses)Swollen lymph nodesSigns and testsBronchial alveolar lavage - fluid is sent for stain and cultureBronchoscopyChest x-rayCrackles (rales) in the infected lung detected by stethoscopeCT scanDecreased breath sounds in the lungPleural fluid culture and stainSputum stain and cultureTreatmentThe goal of treatment is to control the infection. Antibiotics are used, but the response to treatment may be slow and you must keep taking the medications for at least 3 months. Patients who have medication allergies will need to take other antibiotics.Surgery may be needed to remove or drain infected areas.Expectations (prognosis)The outcome is usually good with quick diagnosis and treatment. The outcome is poor when the infection spreads and treatment is delayed.ComplicationsBrain abscessesDiseased tissue (lesions) in the ribsSkin infectionsCalling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have symptoms of this disorder. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve the chance of a good outcome.PreventionBe careful when using corticosteroids. Use these drugs sparingly, in the lowest effective doses and for the shortest periods of time possible.Some patients with an impaired immune system may need to take antibiotics for long periods of time to prevent the infection from returning.ReferencesSouthwick FS. Nocardiosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 351.
