Disseminated nocardiosis in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis: a case report

BACKGROUND

Nocardia are Gram-positive, aerobic, filamentous bacteria that can cause localized or disseminated infections. Immunocompromised patients are at a higher risk of developing Nocardia infection and further dissemination of the disease. To date, limited data have documented the relationship between nocardiosis and alcoholic liver disease.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report the case of a 47-year-old man with a known history of alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The patient presented to our emergency department with redness, swelling in the left eye, and diminished bilateral vision. Fundus examination of the left eye was obscured, while that of the right eye was consistent with subretinal abscess. Therefore, endogenous endophthalmitis was suspected. Imaging revealed two ring-enhancing lesions in the brain, and multiple bilateral small cystic and cavitary lung lesions. Unfortunately, the left eye eventually eviscerated due to the rapid progression of the disease. Cultures from the left eye were positive for Nocardia farcinica. The patient was started on imipenem, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and amikacin based on culture sensitivity. The patient's hospitalization course was complicated by his aggressive and advanced condition, which led to his death.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the patient's condition initially improved with the recommended antibiotic regimens, it led to death owing to the patient's advanced condition. Early detection of nocardial infection in patients with typical or atypical immunosuppressive conditions may improve overall mortality and morbidity. Liver cirrhosis disrupts cell-mediated immunity and may increase the risk of Nocardia infection.

Rhinocladiella mackenziei cerebral phaeohyphomycosis with a definitive outcome

A right-handed man in his early 60s with hypertension controlled by a single prescription medication presented with left-sided heaviness and intermittent right occipital headache. Initial diagnostic workup was unremarkable. CT revealed an enhancing lesion located in the right parietal lobe, with mild mass effect on the right occipital horn, indicative of a brain abscess. The patient was initially treated with a course of empirical antibiotics, including ceftriaxone, vancomycin, metronidazole and dexamethasone. The neurosurgery team aspirated the abscess the following day and extracted yellow pus that was sampled for bacterial and fungal cultures. These cultures returned positive for Rhinocladiella mackenziei, prompting a discontinuation of the empirical antibiotics and initiation of intravenous liposomal amphotericin B for 4 weeks. Intravenous posaconazole was added to the patient's existing therapy regimen, which was substituted with oral isavuconazole on discharge. The patient continues to take isavuconazole, and follow-up imaging has demonstrated regression of the abscess.