[Nocardia farcinica infection of a vascular prosthesis]

Hautarzt. 2007 Apr;58(4):335-7. doi: 10.1007/s00105-006-1153-4.
[Article in German]

Abstract

A 61-year-old woman presented with purple-red subcutaneous nodules on her right leg. She had experienced fever up to 40 degrees C for the past 10 days and felt generally weak over the last two months. Four months earlier, a vascular graft had been implanted in her right femoral artery. Based on the diagnosis of skin infection due to implantation of an infected prosthesis, she was hospitalized and treated with an antibiotic regime. During the initial antibiotic treatment, the symptoms deteriorated, and she developed joint, hepatic and CNS abscesses. Finally, a microbiologic culture with an extended incubation time revealed the diagnosis of an infection with the slowly growing bacterium Nocardia ssp. Hereupon the patient was treated purposefully with Meropenem over six months. This treatment resulted in complete recovery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leg Dermatoses / drug therapy
  • Leg Dermatoses / etiology*
  • Meropenem
  • Middle Aged
  • Nocardia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Nocardia Infections / drug therapy
  • Nocardia Infections / etiology*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / complications*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / etiology*
  • Thienamycins / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Thienamycins
  • Meropenem