Pulmonary nocardiosis: risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis and prognosis.

Autores de IIS La Fe

• Rafael Martinez Diaz

  Autor

• Soledad Reyes Calzada

  Autor

• Rosario Menéndez Villanueva

  Autor

Grupos

• Infecciones Respiratorias

Abstract

Pulmonary infection by Nocardia spp. has been recognized for the past 100 years. The number of cases of pulmonary nocardiosis reported in the literature is increasing, and in some cases, a diagnosis is reached even postmortem. This increase is partly due to the growing number of patients with depressed cellular immunity. The diagnosis of this infection, which has a high rate of mortality, is usually delayed, due to a nonspecific clinical-radiological presentation and the difficulties in cultivating the bacteria. This review analyzes the current situation, in order to better understand this infection and enhance awareness and clinical suspicion that would lead to further specific microbiological studies and treatment.