China Journal of Leprosy and Skin Diseases ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (10): 691-693.doi: 10.12144/zgmfskin202610691

• New and Re-epidemic Infectious Skin Diseases • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Primary cutaneous nocardiosis: a case report

SONG Xialu1,2, ZHOU Qiongyan3   

  1. 1 Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; 2 Department of Dermatology, Lanxi People's Hospital, Lanxi 321100, China; 3 Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315010, China
  • Online:2026-10-15 Published:2026-10-09

Abstract: A 76-year-old male patient who presented with localized erythema, swelling, and pain in the right upper limb for one week. Dermatological examination revealed an approximately 8 cm×3 cm erythematous ulcer with purulent discharge near the right elbow joint, and beaded red nodules of varying sizes on the right upper arm. Laboratory tests showed elevated white blood cell count and hypersensitivity C-reactive protein. Bacterial culture yielcled positive for Nocardia brasiliensis. Diagnosis of primary cutaneous nocardiosis was made. The patient was administered oral trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole together with local symptomatic treatment. Complete recovery was achieved after 50 days of therapy, and no recurrence occurred during the six-month follow-up.

Key words: primary cutaneous nocardiosis, Nocardia brasiliensis, trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole