Document 0031
 DOCN  M9590031
 TI    Human nocardiosis in northern Italy from 1982 to 1992. Northern Italy
       Collaborative Group on Nocardiosis.
 DT    9509
 AU    Farina C; Boiron P; Goglio A; Provost F; Microbiology Institute,
       Ospedali Riuniti, Bergamo, Italy.
 SO    Scand J Infect Dis. 1995;27(1):23-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95304283
 AB    We conducted a retrospective survey of nocardiosis in 9 city hospitals
       in northern Italy from 1982 to 1992. The medical records of 30 patients
       with documented nocardiosis were reviewed. Microbiological data included
       morphology, biochemical characteristics, serology and in vitro
       susceptibility testing. The 29 isolates (1 case was diagnosed on the
       basis of serological results) were Nocardia asteroides (n = 25) and
       Nocardia farcinica (n = 4). Predisposing factors including
       immunosuppression for organ transplant rejection prophylaxis, lung
       disease (silicotuberculosis and pulmonary fibrosis), solid tumours and
       hematological malignancies, and AIDS. Three patients had no identified
       risk factors. 20 cases of pulmonary nocardiosis were observed. Sites of
       infection in patients without previous pulmonary involvement were: brain
       abscesses, soft tissues, pericardium, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid.
       Most strains tested were susceptible to amikacin and imipenem.
       Resistance to several antimicrobial agents was found, particularly
       erythromycin, fosfomycin, pefloxacin, sulphonamides and trimethoprim.
       Antimicrobial chemotherapy included sulphonamides, amikacin,
       ceftriaxone, imipenem and minocycline. 21 patients survived, although 2
       relapsed transiently. Nocardiosis appears to be more common than
       generally realised by physicians in northern Italy. The local species
       distribution and disease spectrum are similar to those described
       elsewhere. Nocardiosis should be part of the differential diagnosis in
       patients with pulmonary infiltrates or brain abscess, particularly those
       with predisposing factors.
 DE    Adolescence  Adult  Aged  AIDS-Related Opportunistic
       Infections/MICROBIOLOGY  Child  Drug Resistance, Microbial  Female
       Human  Immunosuppression/ADVERSE EFFECTS  Italy/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Lung
       Diseases/COMPLICATIONS  Male  Middle Age  Neoplasms/COMPLICATIONS
       Nocardia asteroides/*ISOLATION & PURIF  Nocardia
       Infections/COMPLICATIONS/*EPIDEMIOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY  Retrospective
       Studies  JOURNAL ARTICLE

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