A study of incidence of Pulmonary Nocardiasis at tertiary health care centre in Dhule

Background: Nocardiosis is an infectious disease caused by Nocardia, which is a gram-positive bacillus with a branching hyphae morphology. It is a disease affecting different organs of the body. It is most commonly observed in patients with immunosuppression. Aim and objective: To study the incidence of pulmonary Nocardiarsis in and around Dhule Methodology: Present study was a prospective study carried out on samples received from patients with suspected nocardiasis. Samples were collected from the patients with diabetes and asthma and taking steroids for longer time complaining of respiratory symptoms. Samples received were Sputum, gastric aspirate, broncho alveolar lavage (BAL). All samples were examined by gram staining microscopically. For isolation of Nocardia Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) slopes and Sabouraud's Dextrose agar (SDA) were used. Data was analysed with appropriate statistical tests. Results and discussion: out of all, 11 samples showed culture positive on LJ medium. The incidence of Pulmonary Nocardiasis was 1.35%. Elderly males in the age group of 41-80 years were commonly affected. Out of 11, 7(63.64%) patients were having immunocompromised state.