Open AccessPrimary facial cutaneous nocardiosis in a HIV patient and review of cutaneous nocardiosis in India
Author(s) -
Gaurav Kumar,
Rashmi P Mahale,
K. Rajeshwari,
Rikesh M. Rajani,
Ranjitha Shankaregowda
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1998-3816
pISSN - 0253-7184
DOI - 10.4103/0253-7184.81254
Subject(s) - medicine , nocardiosis , dermatology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , nocardia , family medicine , genetics , bacteria , biology
Nocardiosis is an acute, subacute or chronic bacterial infection caused by several species of geophilic aerobic bacteria of the genus Nocardia. Cutaneous nocardiosis is an uncommon infectious disease that presents as primary cutaneous infection or as a sequale of disseminated pulmonary nocardiosis. Its rarity and as nocardiosis is not an AIDS defined disease it is often underreported. The global incidence of cutaneous nocardiosis is not exactly known. The frequency of nocardiosis in HIV patients has increased from 0.3 to1.85%. In Immunocompetent persons Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis is more commonly seen among gardeners and agriculturists. We report a case of extensive primary facial cutaneous nocardiosis due to Nocardia asteroides, in an adult immunocompromised lady who had no pulmonary focus. The lesions were seen as sinus tracts on the zygomatic arch, preauricular and Infraauricular regions. Bacteriological examination of the pus confirmed the presence of N. asteroides. The rarity of the presentation and Cutaneous nocardiosis in India is reviewed.