Intrathoracic Nocardia-abscess as a cause of haemodynamic instability

Abstract

A 64-year old patient was admitted to our hospital one year after renal transplantation. He complained about headache, cough and fever. Blood cultures revealed Nocardia nova. Because of disseminated disease, he was treated with both co-trimoxazol and meropenem. Eight days later, his condition worsened. A CT-thorax was performed which showed large mediastinal masses and compression of vena cava superior and right atrium. The same evening, he underwent a thoracotomy because of haemodynamic instability. The aspirated pus again showed Nocardia nova. He recovered but developed pleural effusion and again this was positive for Nocardia nova. Both meronem and co-trimoxazol were continued. Six months after diagnosis, he was admitted because of gastro-intestinal bleeding and a mycobacterium species was found in gastric and duodenal biopsies. He was started on claritromycine and myambutol, but developed renal failure. Ten months after diagnosis of disseminated Nocardiosis, he died because of worsening condition and renal failure. No post-mortem examination was performed.Revision of literature showed no other reports of hemodynamic instability by Nocardia-abscesses or compression on vena cava or right atrium.