Disseminated nocardiosis with infective endocarditis of a transplanted heart

Abstract

Nocardiosis is caused by various species of Nocardia and typically occurs as an opportunistic infection. It frequently disseminates, most often involving the lungs, subcutaneous tissues and central nervous system. It has rarely been reported to affect native heart valves. We report the case of a 64-year-old man with disseminated nocardiosis involving the brain, lungs, muscle and tricuspid valve of a transplanted heart. Following antimicrobial therapy, the patient improved clinically and there was no evidence of residual infection on follow-up imaging. This case highlights the presentation of nocardiosis, current therapeutic guidelines and the question of prophylaxis against Nocardia in immunocompromised patients.