Detection of Nocardia from Chronic Skin and Lung Infections in Bangladeshi Patients

Nocardiosis is an acute or chronic infectious disease that may occur in cutaneous, pulmonary and disseminated form in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent host. It may become potentially severe due to delayed diagnosis and incomplete or ineffective treatment. So the aim of the study was to isolate Nocardia spp. from suspected samples, mainly from chronic unhealed wounds and to identify appropriate antimicrobials by susceptibility testing in Bangladeshi patients. Methods: From January 2015-2017, 62 samples were collected which were studied for Nocardial identification and susceptibility testing. Results: Out of total 62 cases, 18 (29.03%) cases were Nocardia positive cases. Besides 6 Acinetobacter spp. and 2 Actinomyces spp. with other varied pathogens were isolated. Among 18 identified nocardiosis patients, majority (10) were post surgery cases, 6 suspected skin and glandular tuberculosis (TB) cases, one had breast sinus, and one was suspected pulmonary TB case. In terms of susceptibility of nocardial isolates, 100% were susceptible to linezolid, 88.9% to amikacin and 78% to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole.