nocardia characteristics, species, dieseaes,diagnosis,treatment, prevention

2. Nocardia
 Named after Edmond Nocard who described
this organism in 1888 in cattle (From Bovine
Farcy)
 First human case was described in 1890

3. Nocardia
 Gram positive rods which are filamentous
 Aerobe
 Non motile
 Catalase +
 Superoxide Dismutase +
 Weakly Acid Fast

4. Nocardia
 Not a part of the normal body flora (Unlike
Actinomycetes)
 Found normally in Environment e.g. soil

5. Pathogenic Species
 N.asteroides
 N. brasiliensis

6. Nocardia
 Transmission is Airborne
 Not Communicable

7. Susceptible Hosts
Skin Lesions:
Immunocompetent as well as
Immunocompromised people
Others: (immunocompromsed)
Cancer
On Prolonged Steroid Treatment
Renal Transplant Patients
I/V drug Users

8. Cutaneous Nocardia
Infection

9. Nocardia Infection of Lung
Brain and Kidney

10. Diagnosis
 Direct Microscopy
 Culture (incubated for 3-5) days
 Colonies

13. Treatment
Sulphonamides with or without Trimethoprim