Distribution of <i>Nocardia</i> Species in Clinical Samples and Their Routine Rapid Identification in the Laboratory

Abstract

Eighty-six Nocardia strains isolated from clinical samples in Belgium were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Eighty-three (96%) strains belonged to only six Nocardia species: N. farcinica (38 [44%]), N. nova (19 [22%]), N. cyriacigeorgica (13 [15%]), N. brasiliensis (6 [6.9%]), N. abscessus (5 [5.8%]), and N. paucivorans (2 [2.3%]). A gallery of nine conventional and enzymatic tests was developed for the rapid identification of the most common species isolated during this survey. Pyrrolidonyl aminopeptidase, gamma-glutamyl aminopeptidase, alpha-mannosidase, and alpha-glucosidase were found to be highly discriminating and could be used to develop an identification scheme.