NOCARDIAL INFECTIONS IN UNITED-STATES, 1972-1974

A survey of members of the Infectious Diseases Society of America indicated that nocardial infections are not rare. Probably 500-1000 cases are recognized in the USA each year, of which 85% are serious pulmonary or systemic infections. Although nocardial infections are usually opportunistic infections in the compromised host, at least 15% of the infections in this series occurred in patients without a definable predisposing condition. Nocardial infections occurred in a random geographic distribution within this country, with affected males outnumbering females by 3:1. Although most patients were 21-50 yr old, the age range was broad. The number and variety of infections caused by Nocardia spp. other than N. asteroides are underestimated. Between 8.6-18.8% of pulmonary-systemic infections in this series were caused by species other than N. asteroides [e.g., N. caviae and N. brasiliensis].