A case of nocardiasis complicated with meningitis in a patient with immune thrombocytopenic purpura

Abstract

Nocardia infection is a well recognized complication of the immunocompromized hosts. It is mostly a primary pulmonary infection, which may disseminate to other organs. The central nervous system (CNS) involvement of nocardiosis is usually manifested as brain abscesses. We report a 25-year-old male patient who presented with nocardial pneumonia and meningitis without brain abscess. He was diagnosed as immune thrombocytopenic purpura and methyl prednisolone was started 5 weeks previously. Nocardia spp. was obtained from his cerebrospinal fluid culture, but he died at the 7th day of intensive care. Nocardia meningitis is a rare manifestation of systemic disease. Nocardia meningitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of meningitis with the coexisting nodular pulmonary lesions in the immunocompromized patient and medications other than co-trimoxazole may be required. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 21:185-187 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.