Membranous nephropathy complicated by Nocardia infection: 1 case report and literature review / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of membranous nephropathy complicated with Nocardia infection, and to improve the understanding of Nocardia infection.Methods:The clinical data of a patient with membranous nephropathy complicated by Nocardia infection who were hospitalized in the department of respiratory medicine, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were retrospectively analyzed. Using " Nocardiosis" and " membranous nephropathy" on China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) and Wanfang databases, and using " Nocardiosis" and " menbranous nephropathy" as keywords to search the pubmed database to summarize the clinical characteristics and diagnosis and treatment points of patients with membranous nephropathy complicated by Nocardia infection.Results:This patient is a 47-year-old middle-aged male. He was admitted to the respiratory medicine department in Xiangya Hospital of Central South University due to " coughing and expectoration of sputum for 2 months, and a mass in the left lower extremity was found for 20 days" . Lung computed tomography (CT) showed that multiple nodules and changes in pleural effusion were seen in the right pleura. The sputum smear showed Gram-positive bacilli, and the smear of the mass puncture fluid of the left lower extremity showed Gram-positive bacilli (branched). After treatment with compound sulfamethoxazole, meropenem and levofloxacin successively, the phlegm was obviously improved, and the mass in the left lower extremity was basically absorbed. After 2 months of follow-up, the pleural effusion and the mass in the left lower extremity were completely absorbed. A total of 4 literatures were collected in the literature search, including 6 cases of this case, including 3 cases (50%) of Nocardia anthracis, 1 case (16.7%) of Nocardia otitis in guinea pigs, and 1 case of Nocardia stellariformis (16.7%). 1 case (16.7%) was not classified.Conclusions:Although Nocardia anthracis is rare in patients with membranous nephropathy, it can easily cause systemic disseminated infection. Therefore, in immunocompromised patients, attention should be paid to the occurrence of Nocardia infection. Co-sulfamethoxazole should be used empirically before Nocardia infection is confirmed. For sulfonamide-resistant strains, linezolid and other drugs can be used for anti-infective treatment.