Chapter 155. Nocardiosis

Nocardiosis refers to disease caused by bacteria of the genus Nocardia. Pneumonia and disseminated disease are most common. Other forms include cellulitis, lymphocutaneous syndrome, actinomycetoma, and keratitis. Microbiology Nocardiae are saprophytic aerobic actinomycetes and are common worldwide in soil, where they contribute to decay of organic matter. Nocardial taxonomy is complex and incompletely understood. As taxonomy continues to evolve, any nocardiae isolated from a human should be considered potential pathogens. Nocardia asteroides, which is most commonly isolated from clinical material and associated with invasive disease, is actually a species complex. ...