Disseminated Nocardia brasiliensis infection with septic arthritis.

An unusual case of disseminated Nocardia brasiliensis infection is presented. The patient, who had been receiving chronic dexamethasone therapy for 4 years, had pneumonia and septic arthritis of the left knee due to N. brasiliensis. To our knowledge, this is the first report from the United States of a synovial joint infection with this organism. Disseminated disease due to N. brasiliensis is infrequently reported; it is most often seen in the immunocompromised patient and is often unresponsive to therapy.