Diagnosis of Rare Bone Infection Caused by Nocardia by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Figures & data

Figure 1 Three images of the affected area in case 1. (A), Features of osteomyelitis caused by Nocardia otitidiscaviarum; (B), Magnetic resonance imaging manifestation of chronic osteomyelitis; (C), Pathological examination of septic changes under a 10*20x microscope.

Figure 2 Colony morphology of three Nocardia species after 9 days of Columbia blood agar culture. (A and B), Nocardia otitidiscaviarum; (C and D), Nocardia cyriacigeorgica; (E and F), Nocardia farcinica.

Table 1 Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing Results of Nocardia in Three Patients with Bone Infection

Pathogenic Bacteria	SXT		LZD		CIP		IMI		MXF		FEP		AMI		AXO		MIN		TOB		CLA
	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R	MIC	R
		I		I		I		I		I		I		I		I		I		I		I
		S		S		S		S		S		S		S		S		S		S		S
Nocardia otitidiscaviarum	1/19	S	≤1	S	1	S	≥16	R	0.5	S	4	S	≤1	S	≥64	R	2	I	8	I	2	S
Nocardia farcinca	1/19	S	2	S	0.5	S	≤2	S	≤0.25	S	32	R	≤1	S	≥64	R	4	I	16	R	4	I
Nocardia cyriacigeorgica	0.25/4.75	S	≤1	S	4	R	≤2	S	1	S	8	S	≤1	S	≤4	S	4	I	≤1	S	≥16	R

Note: Explanation of drug sensitivity:

Abbreviations: SXT, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; LZD, linezolid; CIP, ciprofloxacin; IMI, imipenem; MXF, moxifloxacin; FEP, cefepime; AMI, amikacin; AXO ceftriaxone; MIN, minocycline; TOB, tobramycin; CLA, clarithromycin; S, susceptible; I, intermediate; R, resistant; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration (μg/mL).