Scholarlink

Background <p><i>Nocardia nova</i> (<i>N. nova</i>) is a Gram-positive aerobic actinomycete and a rare pathogen that can cause severe infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.</p> Case presentation <p>We report here a rare case of <i>N. nova</i> bacteremia combined with viral pneumonia in a 54-year-old woman who underwent a modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Post-surgery, she developed high fever and lung inflammation. Initial empirical therapy with levofloxacin was administered for the pulmonary infection. Upon identification of <i>N. nova</i> through blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), treatment was switched to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and imipenem/cilastatin, which led to initial improvement. However, the patient relapsed and required an additional six months of antibiotics to achieve full recovery.</p> Conclusions <p>Establishing a diagnosis of nocardiosis is a precondition for successful antibiotic therapy. <i>Nocardia</i> bacteremia is a rare event, but it can be confirmed through blood cultures. Our report underscores the pathogenic potential of <i>Nocardia</i> species in patients with underlying conditions, highlighting the critical importance of prompt diagnosis and targeted treatment, especially in postoperative cancer patients at risk for co-infections.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Nocardia Nova bacteremia and viral pneumonia in a breast cancer patient post modified radical mastectomy: a case report

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2025年10月22日

查看全文
  • Peng-Peng Tian,
  • Li-Sha Zhu,
  • Wen Fan,
  • Liang-Cai Xie,
  • Xian-Mo Wang,
  • Chang-Li Zhang,
  • Tian Tian

摘要

Background

Nocardia nova (N. nova) is a Gram-positive aerobic actinomycete and a rare pathogen that can cause severe infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

Case presentation

We report here a rare case of N. nova bacteremia combined with viral pneumonia in a 54-year-old woman who underwent a modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Post-surgery, she developed high fever and lung inflammation. Initial empirical therapy with levofloxacin was administered for the pulmonary infection. Upon identification of N. nova through blood cultures and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), treatment was switched to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and imipenem/cilastatin, which led to initial improvement. However, the patient relapsed and required an additional six months of antibiotics to achieve full recovery.

Conclusions

Establishing a diagnosis of nocardiosis is a precondition for successful antibiotic therapy. Nocardia bacteremia is a rare event, but it can be confirmed through blood cultures. Our report underscores the pathogenic potential of Nocardia species in patients with underlying conditions, highlighting the critical importance of prompt diagnosis and targeted treatment, especially in postoperative cancer patients at risk for co-infections.