A CASE OF TESTICULAR NOCARDIOSIS AND LITERATURE-REVIEW

A case of epididymo-orchitis due to Nocardia asteroides in a liver tra nsplant recipient is reported. Nocardiosis is an extremely rare cause of epididymo-orchitis. Four other cases published in the English langu age medical literature are reviewed. All patients were immunocompromis ed, and other organs were affected simultaneously. Clinically the infe ction presented as a painful enlargement of the testicle with few infl ammatory signs. Mortality was high (3/5), and in the two survivors lon g-term sulfonamide therapy was combined with orchiectomy. Nocardiosis should be considered in the diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis in the imm unocompromised host.