Cerebral nocardiosis

Abstract

Cerebral Nocardiosis is a rare, challenging, opportunistic infectious disease of the central nervous system occurring in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. It often results in intraparenchymal abscess formation, which represents only 2% of all cerebral abscesses. The diagnosis of cerebral Nocardiosis is seldom based on imaging. Bacteriological diagnosis is often reached only after surgical excision of the abscess. We report a rare case of brain abscess caused by Nocardia species in a 20-year-old immunocompromised lady. Total surgical excision of the abscess, prompt bacteriological diagnosis based on smear and culture of the pus and initiation of specific antimicrobial therapy (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) resulted in good clinical outcome.