Nocardia is a rare opportunistic agent, which may affect immunocompromised individuals causing lung infections and exceptionally infective endocarditis (IE). There are few reports of IE caused by Nocardia sp., usually involving biological prostheses but rarely in natural valves. Its accurate microbiological identification may be hampered by the similarity with Rhodococcus equi and Corynebacterium spp. Here we report a case of native mitral valve IE caused by this agent in which the clinical absence of response to vancomycin and the suggestion of Nocardia sp. by histology pointed to the misdiagnosis of Corynebacterium spp. in blood cultures. The histological morphology can advise on the need for expansion of cultivation time and use of extra microbiological procedures that lead to the differential diagnosis with Corynebacterium spp. and other agents, which is essential to establish timely specific treatment, especially in immunocompromised patients.
Journal Information
Vol. 15. Issue 4.
Pages 384-386 (July - August 2011)
Vol. 15. Issue 4.
Pages 384-386 (July - August 2011)
Case report
Open Access
Infectious endocarditis caused by Nocardia sp.: histological morphology as a guide for the specific diagnosis
Visits
2795
Jussara Bianchi Castelli1,
, Rinaldo Focaccia Siciliano2, Edson Abdala3, Vera Demarchi Aiello1
Corresponding author
jussara.castelli@incor.usp.br
Correspondence to: Laboratory of Pathotological Anatomy, InCor - HCFMUSP, Av. Dr. Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 44, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP Brazil.
Correspondence to: Laboratory of Pathotological Anatomy, InCor - HCFMUSP, Av. Dr. Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 44, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP Brazil.
This item has received
Article information
Abstract
Keywords:
mitral valve
endocarditis, bacterial
Nocardia infections
Full text is only aviable in PDF
References
[1.]
M.A. Schwartz, S.R. Tabet, A.C. Collier, et al.
Central venous catheter-related bacteremia due to Tsukamurella species in the immunocompromised host: a case series and review of the literature.
Clin Infect Dis, 35 (2002), pp. e72-e77
[2.]
Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook, 2nd Edition, Editor in Chief: Henry D. Isenberg, 2004, ASM Press
[3.]
A.M. Lazo Torres, C. Galvez Contreras, A. Collado Romacho, et al.
Nocardia endocarditis in a native mitral valve.
Rev Esp Cardiol, 57 (2004), pp. 787-788
[4.]
A.T. Timóteo, L.M. Branco, M. Pinto, P. Bico, et al.
Nocardial endocarditis after mitral valve replacement: case report and review of the literature.
Rev Port Cardiol, 29 (2010), pp. 291-297
[5.]
J.S. Cargill, G.J. Boyd, N.C. Weightman.
Nocardia cyriacigeorgica: a case of endocarditis with disseminated soft-tissue infection.
J Med Microbiol, 59 (2010), pp. 224-230
[6.]
M.B. Chedid, M.F. Chedid, N.S. Porto, et al.
Nocardial infections: report of 22 cases.
Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo, 49 (2007), pp. 239-246
[7.]
J. Belmares, S. Detterline, J.B. Pak, et al.
Corynebacterium endocarditis species-specific risk factors and outcomes.
BMC Infect Dis, 6 (2007), pp. 4
Copyright © 2011. Elsevier Editora Ltda.. All rights reserved