Nocardial brain abscess in a renal transplant recipient successfully treated with triple antimicrobials

Clin Nephrol. 1998 Aug;50(2):128-30.

Abstract

Nocardia is a serious opportunistic infection in renal transplant recipients and nocardial brain abscess in these patients has a high mortality. In addition to antimicrobial therapy, treatment usually involves craniotomy and excision of the abscess. We describe a renal transplant recipient maintained on cyclosporine and prednisone developing Nocardia Asteroides brain abscess. After stereotactic aspiration of the abscess, successful treatment was achieved by triple therapy with trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), ceftriaxone and amikacin. The allograft function remained stable. Long-term prophylaxis with TMP/SMX is necessary to prevent the relapse of nocardia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amikacin / therapeutic use
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy*
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology*
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nocardia Infections / drug therapy*
  • Nocardia Infections / etiology
  • Nocardia asteroides*
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • Opportunistic Infections / etiology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
  • Amikacin