Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis Co-infection in SARS-CoV-2 Patients

Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Apr;29(4):696-700. doi: 10.3201/eid2904.221439.

Abstract

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, few cases of Nocar-dia spp. co-infection have been reported during or after a COVID-19 infection. Nocardia spp. are gram-positive aerobic actinomycetes that stain partially acid-fast, can infect immunocompromised patients, and may cause dis-seminated disease. We report the case of a 52-year-old immunocompromised man who had Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis pneumonia develop after a SARS-CoV-2 in-fection. We also summarize the literature for no-cardiosis and SARS-CoV-2 co-infections. Nocardia spp. infection should remain a part of the differential diagnosis for pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts, regardless of other co-infections. Sulfonamide/carbapenem combina-tions are used as empiric therapy for nocardiosis; species identification and susceptibility testing are required to se-lect the optimal treatment for each patient.

Keywords: Barajas-Ochoa A; COVID-19; Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis; Raybould JE. Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis co-infection in SARS-CoV-2 patients. Emerg Infect Dis. 2023 Apr [date cited]. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2904.221439; SARS-CoV-2; Suggested citation for this article: Stamos DB; United States; bacteria; co-infection; coronavirus disease; nocardiosis; opportunistic infections; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Coinfection*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nocardia Infections* / diagnosis
  • Nocardia Infections* / drug therapy
  • Nocardia*
  • SARS-CoV-2

Supplementary concepts

  • Nocardia pseudobrasiliensis