Nocardia brain abscess: a case report

ABSTRACT

Nocardiosis infections are rare, generally systemic, an occurring at the immuno compromised patient. The cerebral abscess with Nocardia is usually secondary to a pulmonary localization. Their bacteriological diagnosis and therapeutic management could be difficult. We report a case of cerebral abscess due to Nocardia in 47 years old patient treated with corticoids for a pulmonary confirmed sarcoidosis. He was hospitalized for a clinical feature in favour of an intra cranial expansive process. The diagnosis of Nocardiosis was suspected at direct examination of Gram stained smears and confirmed by the culture characteristics. The evolution was favorable after stereotaxic punction of the abscess and adapted antibiotherapy based on disc diffusion antibiogram. This observation emphasizes the interest of the bacteriological diagnosis for correct management of cerebral abscesses