Lymphocutaneous nocardiosis caused by Nocardia asteroides. Case report and literature review

Abstract

A 22-year-old man developed erythematous nodules and an ulcer mimicking sporotrichosis on his right hand and forearm, which was subsequently diagnosed as lymphocutaneous nocardiosis caused by Nocardia asteroides. To our knowledge, 21 cases of lymphocutaneous nocardiosis have been reported, with the majority of those cases, except for a few that remain uncertain, being due to Nocardia brasiliensis. The case reported herein, the first known definitive case caused by N asteroides (to our knowledge), showed a more chronic course and less inflammatory manifestation compared with that caused by N brasiliensis. This is probably because N brasiliensis has a stronger virulence than N asteroides.