Nocardia - Opportunistic chest infection in elderly: A case report

Abstract

In this rare case a non-immunocompromised patient with old Tuberculosis on low dose of steroids presents with opportunistic infection of a weakly aerobic gram positive acid fast, filamentous bacteria called Nocardia. An 80 year old non-smoking white female presented with cough, shortness of breath and purulent sputum. Initial antibiotics given were not helpful. Later microbial diagnosis was Nocardia in sputum sample which was uncommon in a non-immunocompromised. She responded to co-trimoxazole therapy.