Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report
Cutaneous nocardiosis is an uncommon bacterial infection caused by <i>Nocardia</i> spp.; <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> is the agent involved in most cases. This infection is acquired through the direct traumatic inoculation of soil, plants, or other substrates where the bacter...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Hilayali Aguilar-Molina Sonia Toussaint-Caire Roberto Arenas Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes Luary C. Martínez-Chavarría Rigoberto Hernández-Castro Carmen Rodriguez-Cerdeira |
| author_facet | Hilayali Aguilar-Molina Sonia Toussaint-Caire Roberto Arenas Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes Luary C. Martínez-Chavarría Rigoberto Hernández-Castro Carmen Rodriguez-Cerdeira |
| author_sort | Hilayali Aguilar-Molina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cutaneous nocardiosis is an uncommon bacterial infection caused by <i>Nocardia</i> spp.; <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> is the agent involved in most cases. This infection is acquired through the direct traumatic inoculation of soil, plants, or other substrates where the bacteria are found. Clinically, it usually manifests as an erythematous ulcerated nodule. In one-third of cases, nodules or gummas are distributed over the lymphatic pathways that resemble lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. Its manifestations vary and can present acutely or more frequently with a latent clinical picture over time. Diagnosis is established mainly by Gram staining, biopsy, exudate culture, and molecular biology. <i>Nocardia</i> infections can recur, implying that antimicrobial therapy must be prolonged (between 6 and 12 months) and involve monitoring patients for at least 6 months after the end of treatment. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment may reduce patient mortality rates. We report the case of an 82-year-old woman who presented with four nodules with a lymphangitic spread on her left hand and forearm, one week after the trauma. Molecular identification was performed using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, and <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> was identified. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ebccd126b16d4aaf80e02f98ffbd78f9 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj-art-ebccd126b16d4aaf80e02f98ffbd78f92025-08-20T03:14:36ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-04-01135102210.3390/microorganisms13051022Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case ReportHilayali Aguilar-Molina0Sonia Toussaint-Caire1Roberto Arenas2Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes3Luary C. Martínez-Chavarría4Rigoberto Hernández-Castro5Carmen Rodriguez-Cerdeira6Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea González”, Tlalpan, Ciudad de Mexico 14080, MexicoServicio de Dermatopatología, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea González”, Tlalpan, Ciudad de Mexico 14080, MexicoSección de Micología, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea González”, Tlalpan, Ciudad de Mexico 14080, MexicoLaboratorio de Bacteriología Intestinal, Hospital Infantil de Mexico Dr. Federico Gómez, Cuauhtémoc, Ciudad de Mexico 06720, MexicoDepartamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico, Coyoacán, Ciudad de Mexico 04510, MexicoDepartamento de Ecología de Agentes Patógenos, Hospital General “Dr. Manuel Gea González”, Tlalpan, Ciudad de Mexico 14080, MexicoFundación Vithas, Grupo Hospitalario Vithas, 28043 Madrid, SpainCutaneous nocardiosis is an uncommon bacterial infection caused by <i>Nocardia</i> spp.; <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> is the agent involved in most cases. This infection is acquired through the direct traumatic inoculation of soil, plants, or other substrates where the bacteria are found. Clinically, it usually manifests as an erythematous ulcerated nodule. In one-third of cases, nodules or gummas are distributed over the lymphatic pathways that resemble lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. Its manifestations vary and can present acutely or more frequently with a latent clinical picture over time. Diagnosis is established mainly by Gram staining, biopsy, exudate culture, and molecular biology. <i>Nocardia</i> infections can recur, implying that antimicrobial therapy must be prolonged (between 6 and 12 months) and involve monitoring patients for at least 6 months after the end of treatment. Early diagnosis and targeted treatment may reduce patient mortality rates. We report the case of an 82-year-old woman who presented with four nodules with a lymphangitic spread on her left hand and forearm, one week after the trauma. Molecular identification was performed using 16S rDNA gene sequencing, and <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> was identified.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1022nocardiosis<i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i>lymphangitic typeimmunocompetent patient16S ribosomal rDNAtreatment |
| spellingShingle | Hilayali Aguilar-Molina Sonia Toussaint-Caire Roberto Arenas Juan Xicohtencatl-Cortes Luary C. Martínez-Chavarría Rigoberto Hernández-Castro Carmen Rodriguez-Cerdeira Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report Microorganisms nocardiosis <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> lymphangitic type immunocompetent patient 16S ribosomal rDNA treatment |
| title | Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report |
| title_full | Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report |
| title_short | Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis (Lymphangitic Type) in an Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report |
| title_sort | primary cutaneous nocardiosis lymphangitic type in an immunocompetent patient a case report |
| topic | nocardiosis <i>Nocardia brasiliensis</i> lymphangitic type immunocompetent patient 16S ribosomal rDNA treatment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1022 |
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