A case report of Nocardia asiatica constrictive pericarditis in a patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

Nocardiosis commonly affects the respiratory system and is a rare cause of purulent pericarditis. Invasive nocardial infections occur more frequently in patients with immunosuppression. A misdiagnosis as tuberculosis infection is not uncommon, especially in the context of immunosuppression in high burden tuberculosis settings. The risk factors and clinical features of the two disease entities overlap substantially. Misdiagnosis may lead to a delay in appropriate treatment and may result in poor outcomes. It is important to note that these conditions may also co-exist in the same patient.

We describe, to the best of our knowledge, the first case of Nocardia asiatica pericarditis in a 32-year-old man with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection. The patient was initially diagnosed in September 2020 with a lower respiratory tract infection and pulmonary tuberculosis was suspected. A chest radiograph, performed at admission, revealed a pericardial effusion and N. asiatica was cultured from a pericardial fluid specimen that was collected 5 days following admission. Despite a good initial clinical response to a combination of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and imipenem/cilastatin, the patient demised after 16 weeks of treatment. Previous reports of laboratory confirmed nocardial pericarditis are also reviewed and summarized.