Nocardia neocaledoniensis as Rare Cause of Spondylodiscitis

Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Feb;29(2):444-446. doi: 10.3201/eid2902.221389.

Abstract

Nocardia neocaledoniensis is a rare species of Nocardia bacteria, identified in 2004 in hypermagnesian ultramafic soil of New Caledonia. Culture of this opportunistic pathogen from spinal biopsy samples confirmed N. neocaledoniensis spondylodiscitis in an immunocompromised man. Isolation of this unusual species from spinal biopsy samples illustrates its underappreciated ability to cause invasive infection.

Keywords: 16S rRNA gene; DNA sequencing; France; Nocardia neocaledoniensis; bacteria; spondylodiscitis.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria
  • Discitis* / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nocardia Infections* / diagnosis
  • Nocardia Infections* / drug therapy
  • Nocardia* / genetics
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Supplementary concepts

  • Nocardia neocaledoniensis