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Pathophys and Cause ⬇

Cause:Nocardia (Ann IM 1975;82:18)
Pathophys:Like tbc

Epidemiology ⬆ ⬇

Airborne. Increased in Hodgkin's, alveolar proteinosis, transplant patients

Signs and Symptoms ⬆ ⬇

Sx:Pulmonary
Si:Pneumonitis with abscesses; skin nodules; CNS infections

Complications ⬆ ⬇

r/o other opportunistics (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS))

Lab and Xray ⬆ ⬇

Lab:

Bact:Slightly AFB-positive, branching gram pos bacilli

Path:Granules in skin, not viscera affected unlike actinomycoses

Treatment ⬆

Rx:Sulfonamides (sulfadiazine), cycloserine, or erythromycin