TB Research

Brain abscesses in an immunocompromised patient with a soft tissue mass

Thokozani Mwase, Phineas Mapiye, Boitumelo Mashigo, Camilla Engela Le Roux, Tamsin Lovelock

Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases · 2024-11

Abstract

Nocardiosis is a rare opportunistic infection and may be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis in the immunocompromised patient. This case report highlights the importance of doing tissue cultures in immunocompromised individuals to correctly identify Nocardia spp. and initiate appropriate treatment timeously.Contribution: This case report describes a typical case of disseminated nocardiosis with brain abscesses in an immunocompromised patient who would have typically been treated as disseminated tuberculosis.

MeSH terms

  • Nocardiosis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Medicine
  • Soft tissue
  • Brain abscess
  • Brain tissue
  • Opportunistic infection
  • Nocardia
  • Abscess
  • Intensive care medicine
  • Pathology