Localized subcutaneous Nocardia farcinica abscess in a woman with overlap syndrome between systemic scleroderma and polymyositis.

Nocardia farcinica is an increasingly common cause of human infection in Europe. We observed an isolated nodular subcutaneous abscess due to N. farcinica in the forearm of a young patient with overlap syndrome between systemic sclerosis and polymyositis. Despite in vitro resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, this oral combination completely resolved the lesion within 3 weeks and was maintained for 6 months. The spectrum of cutaneous nocardiosis in the immunocompromised host is discussed.