Brain abscess due to Nocardia sp. in an immunocompetent patient in Peru: a case report

Cerebral nocardia infections is a rare entity, which has been mainly reported in immunosuppressed patients. Currently, there are no clinical guidelines for first-line treatment. Our case refers to an older immunocompetent adult, with encephalopathy and left hemiparesis, associated with lesions compa...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pamela Huamaní-Charagua, Jesús Portocarrero-Nieto, Gian Marco Arango-Rojas, Alan Latorre, Stalin Vilcarromero
Format: Article
Language:Spanish
Published: Instituto Nacional de Salud 2021-11-01
Series:Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública
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Online Access:https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/7330
Description
Summary:Cerebral nocardia infections is a rare entity, which has been mainly reported in immunosuppressed patients. Currently, there are no clinical guidelines for first-line treatment. Our case refers to an older immunocompetent adult, with encephalopathy and left hemiparesis, associated with lesions compatible with multiple brain abscess and suggestive of infectious etiology. He initially received treatment for tuberculosis, bacterial abscess, and toxoplasmosis, without a favorable clinical response. An empirical treatment for nocardiosis started, by using meropenem and trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole, and clinical and imaging improvement was achieved. The occurrence of adverse events forces the temporary use of alternative medications. We highlight some criteria for including nocardiosis in the differential diagnosis in cases of multiple brain abscess and mention laboratory diagnostic methods and drugs to initiate empirical treatment.
ISSN:1726-4634
1726-4642