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Sofia Maraki Department of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heaklion, Crete, Greece

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Viktoria Eirini Mavromanolaki University of Crete Medical School, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece

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Efstathios E. Detorakis Department of Radiology, Section of Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece

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Dimitra Stafylaki Department of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heaklion, Crete, Greece

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Panagiotis Moraitis Department of Clinical Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heaklion, Crete, Greece

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Effie Scoulica Laboratory of Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece

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Abstract

Nocardia species are rare causative agents of psoas abscess, more frequently occurring as part of disseminated infection. Only sporadic cases have been reported so far, with Nocardia asteroides and Nocardia farcinica being the most common causative agents. Nocardia elegans is an opportunistic pathogen, accounting for only 0.3–0.6% of infections caused by Nocardia species, usually affecting the respiratory tract.

In this study, a previously healthy 74-year-old man was admitted to the University Hospital of Heraklion with fever and intense pain radiating from the lumbar region to the groin and the left thigh, increasing with movement. Imaging findings revealed a large abscess in the left iliopsoas. Blood and pus aspirate cultures yielded a pure culture of Nocardia that was identified by 16S rRNA sequence as N. elegans. The patient was successfully treated with drainage of the abscess along with administration of ceftriaxone, linezolid and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. To our knowledge, this is the first report of iliopsoas abscess caused by N. elegans. Early, accurate diagnosis and timely treatment with drainage of the abscess and long-term administration of antimicrobial agents optimize the outcome.

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Senior editors

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dóra Szabó (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Managing Editor: Dr. Béla Kocsis (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Co-editor: Dr. Andrea Horváth (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Editorial Board

  • Prof. Éva ÁDÁM (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Sebastian AMYES (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.)
  • Dr. Katalin BURIÁN (Institute of Clinical Microbiology University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Orsolya DOBAY (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ildikó Rita DUNAY (Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany)
  • Prof. Levente EMŐDY(Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Anna ERDEI (Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Éva Mária FENYŐ (Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden)
  • Prof. László FODOR (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. József KÓNYA (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Yvette MÁNDI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Károly MÁRIALIGETI (Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. János MINÁROVITS (Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Béla NAGY (Centre for Agricultural Research, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. István NÁSZ (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Kristóf NÉKÁM (Hospital of the Hospitaller Brothers in Buda, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Eszter OSTORHÁZI (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Rozália PUSZTAI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Peter L. RÁDY (Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Prof. Éva RAJNAVÖLGYI (Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ferenc ROZGONYI (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Joseph G. SINKOVICS (The Cancer Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA)
  • Prof. Júlia SZEKERES (Department of Medical Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Mária TAKÁCS (National Reference Laboratory for Viral Zoonoses, National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Edit URBÁN (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)

 

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Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Language English
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1954
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Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
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