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A case is presented of a 64-year-old male patient who was admitted because of delirium, jaundice, a pattern of cholestasis in the liver profile and a right lung mass in the context of a constitutional syndrome and weight loss in the last eight months. The lung mass was punctured and the culture of the obtained material developed white colonies, identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) as Nocardia cyriacigeorgica. Regarding the clinical diagnosis, it was considered as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), on the basis of fulfilling 8 criteria according to SLICC 2012 group, and 24 points according to EULAR/ACR 2019. The liver biopsy showed a mixt cellular infiltrate in portal spaces, with absence of interphase hepatitis and presence of peripheral ductular reaction. These findings were interpreted as liver compromise relate to SLE. Delirium was also considered as a neurological manifestation related to SLE on the basis of ruling out other causes. After being treated with antibiotics and documenting a reduction in the size of the lung mass he received cyclophosphamide in intravenous pulses, achieving normalization of his liver profile and his state of consciousness, and a progressively weight recovering. A year after he was in good health. The report of this case is justified because of the rare presenting form of late onset SLE, as well as the concomitant pulmonary nocardiosis in the absence of previous immunosuppressant treatment.

Objective: Pulmonary nocardiosis is an uncommon pulmonary infection caused by aerobic gram-positive bacteria of the genus Nocardia. Nocardia sp. are environmental organisms spread worldwide. Approximately 50 Nocardia species have been described to date, about 30 of which are known to cause human disease. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica was first reported in 2001., Case Report: We report a case of infection caused by N. cyriacigeorgica in a patient with B-cells non-Hodgkin lymphoma and diabetes mellitus. The microbiological findings reflect a possible co-infection by N. cyriacigeorgica and Aspergillus fumigatus., Conclusions: Patient's background and information related to risk factors are essential to detect the growth of Nocardia sp. in the laboratory. Furthermore, diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is particularly controversial, especially in intensive care units patients. Taking everything into account, we will discuss a possible co-infection by N. cyriacigeorgica and A. fumigatus in a critically ill patient.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a rare complication associated with the use of calcineurin inhibitors in lung transplantation, irrespective of the underlying disease of the graft recipient. It usually occurs in incomplete forms, complicating and delaying diagnosis until damage is already irreversible. It is unrelated to time from transplantation and often presents with concomitant infection, which tends to confound diagnosis. The cases discussed here have a common causative agent and all present with concomitant infection. Treatment recommendations have changed in recent years with the introduction of plasmapheresis or, more recently, the availability of the antibody eculizumab. Notwithstanding, the most cost-effective measure is withdrawal or switching of the calcineurin inhibitor. TMA is an underdiagnosed clinical entity that should be considered in the management of transplantation patients., (Copyright © 2014 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Pulmonary nocardiosis (PN) is a severe infection with a high morbidity and mortality that mainly affects immunocompromised patients. In recent years, an increase in PN cases has been detected among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The factors that are associated with its presence and determine its prognosis remain unknown., Methods: Retrospective study of COPD patients diagnosed with PN over the period from 1997-2009 at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, in Barcelona (Spain). Demographic, clinical, microbiological and evolution data were evaluated in all cases, Results: Thirty patients were identified with PN and COPD. Mean age (standard deviation) was 76 (7) years and the mean FEV(1) was 40 (14)%. Chronic respiratory failure was observed in 56,7% patients and 51,7% had received systemic corticosteroid therapy previous to the PN diagnosis. The most common symptoms were cough and dyspnea (90%). Alveolar infiltrates were observed in 60% of the cases. The most frequently isolated Nocardia species was N. cyriacigeorgica (68%). The one-month mortality rate was 17%, while the one-year mortality rate was 33%. The factors associated with mortality within the first year included previous systemic corticosteroid treatment, less than three months of specific antibiotic therapy and active associated neoplasm., Conclusions: PN affects patients with moderate-severe COPD and has high short- and mid-term mortality rates. Previous corticosteroid treatment, specific antibiotic therapy for less than 3 months and active neoplasia were factors associated with mortality., (Copyright © 2011 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Background: The biological therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases of autoimmune origin, particularly drugs inhibiting cytokines, such as the antagonists of the tumoral necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), are acceptably well tolerated in patients suffering rheumatologic, dermatologic and gastrointestinal pathologies. Nevertheless, pharmacologic vigilance studies have clarified several aspects of their security in daily clinical use. The adverse effects associated with inhibitors of TNFalpha can be related to the target (or class) and to the agent. The adverse effects related to the target include those potentially attributable to the inherent immunosuppressive state due to the blockade of the main cytokine, phenomenon that could increase the susceptibility to the infections and cancer., Aims: To expound the potential risk of serious infections, opportunistic or not, inherent to the use of biological therapies and, specifically, antagonistic drugs of TNFalpha, from the description of a case of invasive fungal infection., Methods: Revision of clinical records, obtained from the chronic inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin patient database, candidates or recipients of the new biological therapies, and study of the microbiological isolates., Results: A case of dual opportunistic infection (nocardiosis and aspergillosis) with a difficult diagnosis and complex management in an immunosupressed patient with Crohn's disease, triggered off after the administration of infliximab (monoclonal antibody anti-TNFalpha) is presented., Conclusions: Invasive fungal infections, with isolated or associated clinical presentation to other opportunistic infections, are emerging in new groups-at-risk as they are the recipients of anti-cytokine biological therapies, regulators of inflammation and immunity. They can be potentially serious in their evolution and a high index of suspicion is needed sometimes for their prompt diagnosis. Possible preventive measures in patients with a high risk of suffering them will have to be investigated.

Pulmonary infection due to Nocardia sp. is an infrequent disease that affects principally to immunodefficient patients although it can be also seen in patients with normal immunity. Diagnosis is based in isolation of micro-organism in respiratory samples while clinical presentation and radiology are non specific. Treatment is made with trimethropim-sulfametoxazole (TMP/SMX), though resistance has developed in some patients. The recommended length of treatment is 6 weeks to 12 months depending on the immunitaly status. We present the case of a male patient of 81 years old affected with COPD and treated with glucocorticoids in a chronic basis, who was admitted because relapsing fever episodes during 3 months before, weight loss and new hard pulmonary infiltrates with Nocardia sp. cultured sputum, and evolution to clinical, radiological and microbiologic resolution with TMP/SMX treatment.

We present a case of pulmonary nocardiosis in an immunocompetent patient with bronchiectasis in the middle lobe and lingula. The radiologic findings were pulmonary nodules, areas of consolidation, and multiple bronchiolar impactions. The patient died and the definitive diagnosis was confirmed at autopsy. Nocardiosis should be taken into account in patients with exacerbation of bronchiectasis.

We present a case of bacteremic pneumonia caused by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum in a corticodependent COPD. Blood and sputum cultures on Mycobacterial media were positives and identification was done using 16S rDNA sequencing. In this article we review the most relevant communications about Nocardia spp infection and study the strain susceptibility using E-test.

Nocardia is a gram-positive bacillus that infects mainly immunodepressed patients. Its association with lupus erythematosus has been described only occasionally and we have found no reports in the literature of an association between lupus and acute respiratory distress syndrome due to pulmonary nocardiosis. We present such a case and discuss the mechanisms that make this lung infection so virulent as well as its epidemiological and microbiological characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.

Nocardia farcinica is an infrequent infection that usually appears in patients with predisposing conditions, especially in immunosuppressed patients, although it has also been found in healthy individuals. Its importance as a new pathogen has been recognized only in recent years. Mainly, it affects the lung, indistinguishable from other types of pneumonia in the clinical and radiological characteristics. The main reason for detection is therapeutic failure.

Nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection that usually arises in immunodepressed patients. Cases in immunocompetent patients are uncommon. We report a 53-year-old woman diagnosed as having Nocardia sp. endocarditis in a native mitral valve, which required valve replacement.

Nocardia spp infection is associated with immunosuppresion states, neoplasms and immunosuppresors and glucocorticoids prolonged treatments. Pulmonary involvement is the most typic feature and the dissemination to chest wall and subcutaneous cellular tissue is uncommon. We report one case of pulmonary nocardiosis by Nocardia asteroides, in a diabetic patient without others risk factors, manifested as a chest wall abscess with fifth rib destruction. The treatment with cotrimoxazol after lesion drainage was successful. We review the literature and remain the different diagnostic and therapeutics attitudes.

The clinical and radiographic manifestations of pulmonary nocardiosis are nonspecific. The diagnosis depends of the clinical suspicion for alerting the microbiology laboratory to use special culture and identification methods to initiate the appropriate therapy early. A nocardia pneumonia in a locally advanced non small cell lung cancer patients is present. Even after initiate the treatment the patient died. It is important to suspect the diagnosis of uncommon infection to begin the therapy.

Nocardia asteroides infection are unusually observed in systemic Lupus erithematous (SLE) patients. They are generally associated to steroidal and immunosuppressive therapy. We report a 24 years old female with SLE diagnosed in 1994 who developed a severe preeclampsia in her first pregnancy requiring emergency caesarean section. Post partum acute renal failure and type IV lupus nephropathy were treated with hemodialysis, methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide and prednisone. Three months later, while she was receiving the fourth cyclophosphamide dose, she presented with a pleuro pneumonia and occipital abscess, both caused by Nocardia asteroides. She was treated with cotrimoxazole + cefixime and pleural decortication was required. Five months later, she developed Meningitis caused by Nocardia asteroides and hydrocephalus. She was treated with ceftriaxone, vancomycin, cotrimoxazole and ventricular shunting procedure. Two months later, a retroperitoneal abscess was diagnosed and surgically drained but the patient died, due to a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus septicemia.

We report a unilateral pulmonary nocardiosis in a 51 years old male that received a renal allograft. The clinical picture appeared 68 days after transplantation and the culture of a bronchoalveolar lavage showed the presence of Nocardia asteroides. Cyclos-porine and azathioprine were discontinued and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole was started with a good clinical response. Afterwards, azathioprine was restarted and the patient is asymptomatic at the present moment.

A young drug addict with positive anti-HIV antibodies, OKT4/OKT8 ratio below 1, oropharingeal candidiasis and pulmonary Pneumocystis carinii infection, dies due to a cerebral abscess with a septic status. The postmortem microbiologic study shows pulmonary abscesses and Nocardia asteroides is isolated from lung tissue and spinal fluid. We note out the rareness of this pathology and its relation to AIDS.