Primary subcutaneous Nocardia asteroides infection in a renal allograft recipient

Nocardia asteroides is an important opportunistic pathogen in immunocomprom ised hosts. The primary infection is usually in the lungs and is followed b y dissemination to other parts of the body. Primary subcutaneous infection with Nocardia asteroides has been reported rarely (three reports) and no su ch case has been reported in a renal transplant recipient. We describe here a case of renal transplant recipient who developed primary subcutaneous in fection with Nocardia asteroides within one and half years of the transplan tation.