Report of an immunocompetent case with disseminated infection due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum: Identification by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Nocardia otitidiscaviarum belongs to the agents of opportunistic infections seen in immunocompromised patients, but may occur rarely in immunocompetent patients. In this report we described a case of a previously healthy 69-year-old woman with cerebral and retroperitoneal abscess due to Nocardia otitidiscaviarum. The patient was admitted to hospital because of loss of strength in her right arm and leg. Nocardia spp. was isolated from the abscess material. The intracranial lesions were drained by stereotactic craniotomy. The large abscess located around the left kidney was drained and microscopic examination of aspirated material showed Nocardia spp. For species identification, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was carried out and was 100% concordant with Nocardia otitidiscaviarum. Use of 16S rDNA gene sequencing for identification permits detection of rare aetiologic agents that cause brain abscesses.