Nocardia asteroides

Question 1

Physical description of N. asteroides

Answer 1

• actinomycete morphology
• produce shorter mycelia acids, hence partially acid fast
• aerobic, lives in surface soil

Question 2

Clinical presentation of N. asteroides

Answer 2

• lobar pneumonia in alcoholics or immunocomp. patients
• abscess formation in lung lob
• may spread to brain and CNS; meningitis or brain abscess
• foot infection

Question 3

Epidemiology of N. asteroides

Answer 3

• soil bacterium
• opportunistic pathogen
• lung infection from aspiration; often vomit dissemination to CNS and kidneys

Question 4

Control of N. asteroides

Answer 4

• SxT is preferred

- Carbapenems + amikacin