NOCARDIOSIS

Abstract

A review of the literature reveals that infection due to Nocardia asteroides (formerly called "Actinomyces asteroides¹) is not common. In the large majority of cases reported, the diagnosis has been made at the time of necropsy. In those instances in which the diagnosis was established during life, the organism usually was demonstrated late in the course of the disease. Only an occasional recovery has been reported. Before the introduction of sulfonamide drugs and antibiotics no satisfactory treatment was available. In 1921, Henrici and Gardner²reviewed the literature on the acid-fast actinomycetes. They were able to find 26 such cases and they added 1 case, in which the patient was suffering with what appeared to be a pulmonary infection. The organism isolated from the sputum was an acid-fast actinomycete which they described under the name of Actinomyces gypsoides. Later Henrici³expressed the opinion that this organism had no