Cutaneous nocardiosis: an underdiagnosed pathogenic infection

Abstract

A 35-year-old woman presented with raised red lesions over the elbow at the site of a prior injury from a road traffic accident which had occurred 3 years ago. She gave history of pus discharge from the lesions occasionally. A previous biopsy suggested a diagnosis of cutaneous botryomycosis following which the patient received a course of antibiotics for a week. A culture revealed no bacterial or fungal growth. But the lesions continued to progress with pus drainage. On clinical examination, multiple skin-coloured nodules with erosions and crusting were seen over the extensor …