Pediatric Nocardiosis Treatment & Management

  • Author: Nicholas John Bennett, MB, BCh, PhD; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 11, 2011
 

Medical Care

  • Sulfa-based therapy is recommended for nocardiosis. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) or a sulfonamide (sulfadiazine), given intravenously in high doses, is the treatment of choice.[8]
  • Linezolid has a growing literature in support of its use in combination and even monotherapy for treatment of Nocardia infections. It has good CNS penetration, is available in an oral form, and is the only antibiotic known to be active against all strains of Nocardia.
  • Additional concurrent therapy with an aminoglycoside (amikacin, gentamicin) plus ceftriaxone benefits patients with fulminant disease.
  • Other medications for the pediatric age group include extended-spectrum cephalosporins, imipenem/meropenem, ampicillin, and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Tetracycline derivatives used in treatment include minocycline or doxycycline (in a child >8 y with sulfa hypersensitivity).
  • Patients who are immunocompetent with lymphocutaneous disease are usually treated for 6-12 weeks. Therapy includes incision and drainage of abscesses. Patients with immunocompromising conditions are treated for at least 3 months after clinical cure (usually up to 1 y of therapy).
  • Closely monitor patients with AIDS and CNS disease; relapse can occur years after therapy.
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Surgical Care

  • Surgical therapy to drain abscesses is usually helpful (and potentially diagnostic); however, brain abscesses may respond to antimicrobial treatment without surgery. The risks of an invasive neurosurgical procedure should be balanced against the benefits of a diagnostic biopsy or potentially therapeutic drainage.
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Consultations

  • A multidisciplinary team in a pediatric ICU setting should manage fulminant nocardiosis.
  • Consultation with a pediatric infectious diseases specialist is also recommended.
  • Neurosurgery or interventional radiology may need to be consulted to obtain biopsies.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Nicholas John Bennett, MB, BCh, PhD  Fellow in Pediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Nicholas John Bennett, MB, BCh, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Pediatrics

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Joseph Domachowske, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Joseph Domachowske, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rosemary Johann-Liang, MD  Medical Officer, Infectious Diseases and Pediatrics, Division of Special Pathogens and Immunological Drug Products, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration

Rosemary Johann-Liang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Gary J Noel, MD  Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Associate Professor, Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Gary J Noel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joseph Domachowske, MD  Professor of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Joseph Domachowske, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD  Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Sanofi Pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Baxter Healthcare Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  2. Marchandin H, Eden A, Jean-Pierre H, et al. Molecular diagnosis of culture-negative cerebral nocardiosis due to Nocardia abscessus. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. Jul 2006;55(3):237-40. [Medline].

  3. Hamid ME, Maldonado L, Sharaf Eldin GS, et al. Nocardia africana sp. nov., a new pathogen isolated from patients with pulmonary infections. J Clin Microbiol. Feb 2001;39(2):625-30. [Medline].

  4. Rodriguez-Nava V, Couble A, Khan ZU, et al. Nocardia ignorata, a new agent of human nocardiosis isolated from respiratory specimens in Europe and soil samples from Kuwait. J Clin Microbiol. Dec 2005;43(12):6167-70. [Medline]. [Full Text].

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  8. [Guideline] Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections. Clin Infect Dis. Nov 15 2005;41(10):1373-406. [Medline].

  9. Brown-Elliott BA, Ward SC, Crist CJ, et al. In vitro activities of linezolid against multiple Nocardia species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. Apr 2001;45(4):1295-7. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  10. American Academy of Pediatrics. Nocardiosis. In: Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 27th ed. 2007:470-1.

  11. Barone MA. Formulary. In: The Harriet Lane Handbook. 14th ed. 1996:474-667.

  12. Blackwell Synergy. Nocardia infections. American Journal of Transplantation. 2004;Vol 4 Issue S10:47. [Full Text].

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