Nocardia can cause systemic infections with varying manifestations. Resistance patterns vary by species. We describe N. otitidiscavarium infection with pulmonary and cutaneous manifestations in a man in the United States. He received multidrug treatment that included trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole but died. Our case highlights the need to treat with combination therapy until drug susceptibilities are known.
Keywords: Nocardia; Nocardia otitidiscaviarum; United States; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cutaneous abscess; drug resistance; trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.