American Journal of Medical Case Reports
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American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2017, 5(9), 248-251
DOI: 10.12691/ajmcr-5-9-6
Open AccessCase Report

Disseminated Nocardiosis in a Patient with Lepromatous Leprosy

Balakrishnan Valliyot1, Sarosh Kumar K1, Harikrishnan Mohan1, , Sarin S1, Kadeeja Beevi1 and Sudha Balakrishnan1

1Department of General Medicine, ACME-Pariyaram

Pub. Date: September 28, 2017

Cite this paper:
Balakrishnan Valliyot, Sarosh Kumar K, Harikrishnan Mohan, Sarin S, Kadeeja Beevi and Sudha Balakrishnan. Disseminated Nocardiosis in a Patient with Lepromatous Leprosy. American Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2017; 5(9):248-251. doi: 10.12691/ajmcr-5-9-6

Abstract

Disseminated nocardiosis is a serious opportunistic infection with very high mortality, especially in individuals with defective cell mediated immunity. The use of immunosuppressant therapy is associated with increased risk of opportunistic infections and in south-east Asian countries where tuberculosis is widely prevalent, Nocardia is an often overlooked and under diagnosed pathogen, with clinically very similar presentations. Here we report a case of disseminated nocardiosis presenting as multifocal brain, in a patient with Lepromatous Leprosy, who was on immunosuppressive therapy for Type 2 Lepra reactions. An early diagnosis requires high index of suspicion and interventions like stereotactic brain surgery and is a determinant for positive clinical outcome.

Keywords:
brain abscess disseminated nocardiosis immunesuppresant therapy opportunistic infections leprosy nocardia

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