Nocardiosis in the south of France over a 10-years period, 2004–2014

Background: Nocardiosis is a rare disease with polymorphic presentations. The epidemiology and clinical presentation could change with the increasing number of immunocompromised patients. Methods: The medical records and microbiological data of patients affected by nocardiosis and treated at the university hospitals of Marseille between 2004 and 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The cases of 34 patients infected by Nocardia spp during this period were analyzed. The main underlying conditions were transplantation (n = 15), malignancy (n = 9), cystic fibrosis (n = 4), and immune disease (n = 3); no immunodeficiency condition was observed for three patients. No case of AIDS was observed. At diagnosis, 61.8% had received steroids for over 3 months. Four clinical presentations were identified, depending on the underlying condition: the disseminated form (50.0%) and the visceral isolated form (26.5%) in severely immunocompromised patients, the bronchial form (14.7%) in patients with chronic lung disease, and the cutaneous isolated form (8.8%) in immunocompetent patients. Nocardia farcinica was the main species identified (26.5%). Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole was prescribed in 68.0% of patients, and 38.0% underwent surgery. Mortality was 11.7%, and the patients who died had disseminated or visceral nocardiosis. Conclusions: The clinical presentation and outcome of nocardiosis depend on the patient’s initial immune status and underlying pulmonary condition. Severe forms were all iatrogenic, occurring after treatments altering the immune system