Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients

Pulmonary nocardiosis is a rare disorder that mainly affects immune-compromised patients. We report a 37-year-old male who presented with persistent fever associated with productive cough. During this course of therapy, he had recurrent admissions for empyema thoracic. Clinically, his vital signs we...

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Main Authors: Samshol Sukahri, Lily Diana Zainudin, Mohd Firdaus Hadi, Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus, Muhammad Imran Abdul Hafidz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pulmonology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8840920
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author Samshol Sukahri
Lily Diana Zainudin
Mohd Firdaus Hadi
Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus
Muhammad Imran Abdul Hafidz
author_facet Samshol Sukahri
Lily Diana Zainudin
Mohd Firdaus Hadi
Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus
Muhammad Imran Abdul Hafidz
author_sort Samshol Sukahri
collection DOAJ
description Pulmonary nocardiosis is a rare disorder that mainly affects immune-compromised patients. We report a 37-year-old male who presented with persistent fever associated with productive cough. During this course of therapy, he had recurrent admissions for empyema thoracic. Clinically, his vital signs were normal. Blood investigations show leukocytosis with a significantly raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) was scanty 1+ and sputum mycobacterium culture was negative. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed consolidative changes with mild to moderate pleural effusion on the right side. Skin biopsy was taken and showed Paecilomyces species. A computed tomography scan (CT thorax) was performed and revealed a multiloculated collection within the right hemithorax with a split pleura sign. Decortications were performed and tissue culture and sensitivity (C+S) growth of Nocardia species. And it is sensitive to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and completed treatment for 4 months. This case highlights that pulmonary nocardiosis should be kept in mind in also immune-competent patients, especially in suspected cases of tuberculosis not responding to antitubercular therapy.
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publisher Wiley
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series Case Reports in Pulmonology
spelling doaj-art-474c8e8eec7740debaf91bc870ae9fbd2025-08-20T02:39:19ZengWileyCase Reports in Pulmonology2090-68462090-68542020-01-01202010.1155/2020/88409208840920Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent PatientsSamshol Sukahri0Lily Diana Zainudin1Mohd Firdaus Hadi2Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus3Muhammad Imran Abdul Hafidz4General Medical Unit, Department of Medicine, University Technology MARA, MalaysiaGeneral Medical Unit, Department of Medicine, University Technology MARA, MalaysiaDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDivision of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaPulmonary nocardiosis is a rare disorder that mainly affects immune-compromised patients. We report a 37-year-old male who presented with persistent fever associated with productive cough. During this course of therapy, he had recurrent admissions for empyema thoracic. Clinically, his vital signs were normal. Blood investigations show leukocytosis with a significantly raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) was scanty 1+ and sputum mycobacterium culture was negative. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed consolidative changes with mild to moderate pleural effusion on the right side. Skin biopsy was taken and showed Paecilomyces species. A computed tomography scan (CT thorax) was performed and revealed a multiloculated collection within the right hemithorax with a split pleura sign. Decortications were performed and tissue culture and sensitivity (C+S) growth of Nocardia species. And it is sensitive to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and completed treatment for 4 months. This case highlights that pulmonary nocardiosis should be kept in mind in also immune-competent patients, especially in suspected cases of tuberculosis not responding to antitubercular therapy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8840920
spellingShingle Samshol Sukahri
Lily Diana Zainudin
Mohd Firdaus Hadi
Mohd Al-Baqlish Mohd Firdaus
Muhammad Imran Abdul Hafidz
Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients
Case Reports in Pulmonology
title Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients
title_full Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients
title_fullStr Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients
title_full_unstemmed Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients
title_short Recurrent Empyema Thoracic Secondary to Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Immunocompetent Patients
title_sort recurrent empyema thoracic secondary to pulmonary nocardiosis in immunocompetent patients
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8840920
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AT mohdfirdaushadi recurrentempyemathoracicsecondarytopulmonarynocardiosisinimmunocompetentpatients
AT mohdalbaqlishmohdfirdaus recurrentempyemathoracicsecondarytopulmonarynocardiosisinimmunocompetentpatients
AT muhammadimranabdulhafidz recurrentempyemathoracicsecondarytopulmonarynocardiosisinimmunocompetentpatients