Pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with pemphigus foliaceus: case report and literature review

BMC Infect Dis. 2021 Jan 6;21(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-05673-5.

Abstract

Background: Nocardiosis is an uncommon opportunistic infection seen in immunocompromised patients or those with a dysfunctional immune system. Nocardia asteroides infection in patients with Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) has never been reported.

Case presentation: We report an interesting case of nocardiosis-characterized by pulmonary intra-cavitary infection, in a 54-year-old man with PF and diabetes mellitus. The man finally recovered from the infection.

Conclusions: This is the first case reporting pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with PF. We recommend that physicians be aware of nocardiosis in patients with pemphigus as a possible cause of underlying infectious disease to avoid misdiagnoses and mismanagement.

Keywords: Case report; Corticosteroids; Diabetes; Nocardia asteroides; Pemphigus foliaceus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nocardia / isolation & purification*
  • Nocardia Infections / complications*
  • Nocardia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Nocardia Infections / drug therapy
  • Nocardia Infections / microbiology
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis*
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Pemphigus / complications*
  • Pemphigus / drug therapy
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Prednisone