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DisseminatedNocardia farcinica infection in an AIDS patient

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Abstract

This report describes an AIDS patient presenting with disseminatedNocardia farcinica infection diagnosed by percutaneous kidney biopsy. The isolate was initially identified asNocardia asteroides. ThoughNocardia asteroides remains sensitive to most antimicrobial agents,Nocardia farcinica is resistant to gentamicin, tobramycin and cephalosporins and is indistinguishable fromNocardia asteroides by regular laboratory methods. In view of the rising incidence of infections withNocardia farcinica, third-generation cephalosporins should not be used in the initial management ofNocardia infections, and all isolates should be submitted for antibiotic susceptibility testing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center, 10003, New York, New York, USA

    G. Diego Miralles

  2. Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center, 10003, New York, New York, USA

    G. Diego Miralles

  3. Duke University Medical Center, Box 3398, 27710, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    G. Diego Miralles

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  1. G. Diego Miralles
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Diego Miralles, G. DisseminatedNocardia farcinica infection in an AIDS patient. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 13, 497–500 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974641

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01974641

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