NOCARDIA

Course overview

THE GENUS NOCARDIA IS AN AEROBIC ACTINOMYCETE, CATALASE-POSITIVE, GRAM-POSITIVE BACILLUS, WITH A BRANCHING FILAMENTOUS FORM THAT CAN CAUSE PULMONARY INFECTION (MOST COMMON), PRIMARY CUTANEOUS INFECTION AND ALSO DISSEMINATION TO OTHER SITES. TYPICALLY, NOCARDIA IS AN OPPORTUNISTIC PATHOGEN THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTS IMMUNOSUPPRESSED PATIENTS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF NOCARDIA INFECTION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.