Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Observation of Nocardia Asteroides Complex in a Patient with Corneal Ulceration: The First Case Report from Iran

Authors

Seyedeh Zeinab Seyyed-Yousef 1
Mehdi Fatahi-Bafghi 2
Seyyed Saeed Eshraghi 3
Bagher Hoseini 4
Shadi Habibnia 5
Masoumeh Rasouli-Nasab 6
Parvin Heidarieh 7

1 Postgraduate Student of Microbiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

3 Professor, Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Pathologist, Iran Eye Bank, Tehran, Iran

5 Ph.D. Candidate of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

6 Ph.D. Candidate of Microbiology, Psteur Insititute, Tehran, Iran

7 Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Department of Bacteriology & Virology, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran

Abstract
Background & Aims: Nocardia asteroides is gram-positive, partially acid-fast, aerobic actinomycetes which cause a wide range of skin infections, and pulmonary, cerebral, and ocular infection. Case Presentation: A 60-year-old man with diabetes presented with ocular ulcers in 2015. Through the medical records evaluation, physical examination, and biochemical evaluation of the patient, Nocardia asteroides complex was identified as the cause of infection. The patient was treated with amikacin and ciprofloxacin, and recovery was obtained and the patient was placed on the waiting list for corneal transplantation. Conclusion: Diagnosis of keratitis caused by Nocardia asteroides is difficult and it may be misdiagnosed due similarities with keratitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Therefore, suitable diagnosis methods and early diagnosis of ocular nocardiosis are necessary. In the present study, Nocardia asteroides complex was isolated from a corneal ulceration.

Keywords

Ocular nocardiosis
Nocardia asteroides
Keratitis
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Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 23, Issue 2
2016
Pages 228-233

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