Nocardiosis of the Central Nervous System: A rare complication of COVID management?

Matthew DiMeglio; Hamadullah Shaikh; Jennifer Newman; Gustavo Vazsquez-Rubio

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01599

Nocardiosis of the Central Nervous System: A rare complication of COVID management?

IDCases. 2022 Aug 12:29:e01599. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01599. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Matthew DiMeglio¹, Hamadullah Shaikh², Jennifer Newman³, Gustavo Vazsquez-Rubio²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, the United States of America.
² Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, the United States of America.
³ Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, the United States of America.

Abstract

This case report examines a previously immunocompetent male that was treated with a prolonged course of corticosteroids for COVID pneumonia. He then returned with worsening headaches followed by flaccid paralysis of extremities due to cerebral and spinal cord abscesses secondary to Nocardia farcinica. A review of the literature on the mechanism of immunosuppression with COVID infection and corticosteroids is provided.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Nocardia farcinica; Nocardiosis.

Publication types

Case Reports