In
disseminated forms, the aerobic actinomycetes can spread further, throughout the entire body.
- Spread within the thoracic cavity from the lung, dissemination throughout the abdomen.
- Spread to the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain.
- Bacteremia is possible.
A 69-year-old patient was immunocompromised due to treatment for multiple myeloma and other health concerns. Surgical drainage of a large intracranial abscess was performed, and the microbiologic cultures were positive for Nocardia farcinica. Serial MRIs of the brain during the course of treatment show a decrease in the size of the large brain abscess. The patient was cured after a long course of antibiotics.3
3. Xu, N., Li, L., Lei, W., & Qian, W. (2021). Nocardia farcinica Brain Abscess in a Multiple Myeloma Patient Treated with Proteasome Inhibitor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Brain Sciences, 11(9), 1204. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091204
