Clinical Features of Pulmonary Nocardiosis in Patients with Different Underlying Diseases: A Case Series Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Basic Clinical Features of 64 Patients with Pulmonary Nocardiosis

	Total (n=64, 100%)	ICH (n=41, 64.1%)	ICO (n=23, 35.9%)	P value
Demographic characteristics
Sex (Male/Female)	42/22	28/13	14/9	0.549
Age (year)	21~86 (57.1±15.7)	23~79 (56.2±13.4)	21~86 (58.6±19.2)	0.434
Coexisting disease
Bronchiectasis	(11, 17.2%)	(2, 4.9%)	(9, 39.1%)	0.002
COPD	(13, 20.3%)	(4, 9.8%)	(9, 39.1%)	0.013
Interstitial lung disease	(3, 4.7%)	(2, 4.9%)	(1, 4.3%)	0.923
Hematological diseases	(8, 12.5%)	(8, 19.5%)	(0, 0%)	0.017
Organ transplantation	(9, 14.1%)	(9, 22.0%)	(0, 0%)	0.04
Autoimmune diseases	(14, 21.9%)	(14, 34.1%)	(0, 0%)	0.007
Kidney trouble	(10, 15.6%)	(8, 19.5%)	(2, 8.7%)	0.077
Diabetes	(13, 20.3%)	(11, 26.8%)	(2, 8.7%)	0.160
Medication				<0.001
Glucocorticoid	(21, 32.8%)	(21, 51.2%)	(0, 0%)
Glucocorticoid + Immunosuppressant	(6, 9.4%)	(6, 14.6%)	(0, 0%)
Immunosuppressant	(1, 1.6%)	(1, 2.4%)	(0, 0%)
Department General ward /ICU)	59/5	38/3	21/2	0.196
Medical attendance
Time from symptom to admission (day)	15.0 (7.0, 30.0)	15.0 (7.0, 30.0)	14.0 (7.0, 30.0)	0.578
Time from admission to diagnosis (day)	3.5 (1.25, 11.0)	6.0 (2.0, 13.5)	3.0 (1.0, 7.0)	0.178
Length of hospital stay (day)	17.5 (10.3, 32.3)	22.0 (14.5, 35.5)	11.0 (7.0, 25.0)	0.026
Outcome				0.702
Survival	(55, 85.9%)	(34, 82.9%)	(21, 91.3%)
Death	(8, 12.5%)	(6, 14.6%)	(2, 8.7%)
Lost visit	(1, 1.6%)	(1, 2.4%)	(0, 0%)

Table 2 Clinical Symptoms, Imaging, and Clinical Laboratory Features in 64 Patients with PN

	Total (64, 100%)	ICH (41, 64.1%)	ICO (23, 35.9%)	P-value
Clinical symptoms
Fever	(42, 65.6%)	(30, 73.2%)	(12, 52.2%)	0.090
Cough	(51, 79.7%)	(34, 82.9%)	(17, 73.9%)	0.592
Dyspnea	(25, 39.1%)	(14, 34.1%)	(11, 47.8%)	0.282
Hemoptysis	(12, 18.8%)	(8, 19.5%)	(4, 17.4%)	1.000
Weak	(13, 20.3%)	(10, 24.4%)	(3, 13.0%)	0.448
Sputum	(43, 67.2%)	(29, 70.7%)	(14, 60.9%)	0.420
Imaging presentation
Consolidation	(35, 54.7%)	(25, 60.1%)	(10, 43.5%)	0.177
Nodule	(32, 50%)	(24, 58.5%)	(8, 34.8%)	0.068
Cavity	(31, 48.4%)	(21, 51.2%)	(10, 43.5%)	0.552
Ground glass opacity	(29, 45.3%)	(21, 51.2%)	(8, 34.8%)	0.205
Mass	(6, 9.4%)	(6, 14.6%)	(0, 0%)	0.139
Mediastinal lymphadenopathy	(12, 18.8%)	(7, 17.1%)	(5, 21.7%)	0.900
Bronchiectasis	(11, 17.2%)	(2, 4.9%)	(9, 39.1%)	0.002
Bronchial inflatable signs	(20, 31.3%)	(15, 36.6%)	(5, 21.7%)	0.219
Pleural effusion	(25, 39.1%)	(17, 41.5%)	(8, 34.8%)	0.599
Pericardial effusion	(12, 18.8%)	(9, 22.0%)	(3, 13.0%)	0.588
Clinically tested features
CRP (mg/L)	51.9 (9.7, 125.4)	69.7 (11.4, 131.3)	37.0 (6.1, 124.1)	0.404
ESR (mm/h)	51.0 (19.0, 77.0)	51.0 (22.0, 90.0)	47.0 (7.0, 72.8)	0.147

Figure 1 CT imaging of PN. Lung CT images of PN had no specificity and could be presented as: (A) lobe consolidation with bronchial inflata signs and cavities; (B) tree-in-bud and small cavities; (C) bronchiectasis, patch shadow, small nodules; (D) cavity and pleural effusion.