Nocardia

Excerpt

The genus Nocardia is an aerobic actinomycete, catalase-positive, gram-positive bacillus, with a branching filamentous form first described in 1888 by Edmond Nocard. Nocardia sp. is found worldwide in a myriad of environments. Disease resulting from Nocardia infection results in a variety of symptoms based upon the location of the infection. The classic sites of infection include pulmonary infection (most common) and primary cutaneous infection; however, dissemination to other sites and CNS involvement often occurs. Typically, Nocardia is an opportunistic pathogen that primarily affects immunosuppressed patients. However, Nocardia can also infect immunocompetent individuals, especially the cutaneous form of the disease.