NOCARDIA OTITIDISCAVIARUM INFECTION OF A TRAUMATIC SKIN WOUND

A case of primary Nocardia otitidiscaviarum infection of a skin wound over an open fracture in a previously healthy adult who suffered multi ple trauma in a car accident is reported. The organism was identified in cultures of pus specimens from the infected wound. The case demonst rated the difficulties of testing susceptibility of nocardiae in vitro and the necessity of prolonged antibiotic treatment. The prevalence o f nocardial infections is underestimated, highlighting the need for ad equate documentation of such infections and compilation of the informa tion by public health authorities.