Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcome Between Localized and Disseminated Nocardiosis in a Tertiary Hospital in China

Figures & data

Table 1 The Difference of Clinical Characteristics and Treatment Outcomes Between Localized and Disseminated Nocardiosis

	Total (n = 54)	Outcome [n (%)]		P-value
		Localized nocardiosis (n = 34)	Disseminated nocardiosis (n = 20)
Baseline characteristics
Age	50.4±18.7	54.0±19.3	44.2±16.4	P=0.064
Sex
Male	32 (59.3)	19 (55.9)	13 (65.0)	P=0.510
Female	22 (40.7)	15 (44.1)	7 (35.0)
Smoke	12 (22.2)	7 (20.6)	5 (25.0)	P=0.970
Alcohol	2 (3.7)	0 (0.0)	2 (10.0)	P=0.257
Long-term glucocorticoids and/or immunosuppressants	30 (55.6)	15 (44.1)^a	15 (75.0) ^b	P=0.027
Chronic structural lung disease	23 (42.6)	19 (55.9)	4 (20.0)	P=0.010
Diabetes	15 (27.8)	10 (29.4)	5 (25.0)	P=0.727
Chronic liver disease	8 (14.8)	4 (11.8)	4 (20.0)	P=0.670
Tumors or blood disease	2 (3.7)	2 (5.9)	0 (0.0)	P=0.747
Infection site
Lung	41 (75.9)	23 (67.6)	18 (95.0)	P=0.127
Central nervous system	13 (24.1)	0 (0)	13 (65.0)	P<0.001
Skin soft tissue	19 (35.2)	8 (23.5)	11 (55.0)	P=0.019
Bone tissue	4 (7.4)	0 (0.0)	4 (20.0)	P=0.030
Eye	2 (3.7)	1 (2.9)	1 (5.0)	P>0.999
Else tissue	8 (14.8)	2 (5.9)	6 (30.0)	P=0.044
Clinical manifestations
Fever	43 (79.6)	24 (70.6)	19 (95.0)	P=0.072
Cough and expectoration	36 (66.7)	22 (64.7)	14 (70.0)	P=0.690
Ecphysesis	16 (29.6)	12 (35.3)	4 (20.0)	P=0.235
Hemoptysis	8 (14.8)	4 (11.8)	4 (20.0)	P=0.670
Chest pain	7 (13.0)	5 (14.7)	2 (10.0)	P=0.938
Septic shock	6 (11.1)	3 (8.8)	3 (15.0)	P=0.803
Skin and soft tissue lesions	19 (35.2)	8 (23.5)	11 (55.0)	P=0.019
Headaches	7 (13.0)	0 (0.0)	7 (35.0)	P=0.001
Impaired neurological function	7 (13.0)	0 (0.0))	7 (35.0)	P=0.001
Epilepsy	3 (5.6)	0 (0.0)	3 (15.0)	P=0.088
Other symptoms	9 (16.7)	6 (17.6)	3 (15.0)	P=0.900
Radiological features (chest CT imaging)
Pulmonary nodules	30 (55.6)	15 (44.1)	15 (75.0)	P=0.027
Patchy shadows	33 (61.1)	22 (64.7)	11 (55.0)	P=0.480
Cavernous shadows	22 (40.7)	11 (32.4)	11 (55.0)	P=0.102
Solid shadows	17 (31.5)	8 (23.5)	9 (45.0)	P=0.101
Bronchial dilatation	15 (27.8)	13 (38.2)	2 (10.0)	P=0.025
Pleural effusion	14 (25.9)	9 (26.5)	5 (25.0)	P=0.905
Treatment
Monotherapy	10 (18.5)	10 (29.4)	0 (0.0)	P=0.020
Combined therapy	44 (81.5)	24 (70.6)	20 (100.0)
Prognosis^c
Hospitalization period	27.0 (15.0, 35.5)	20.0 (14.0, 31.0)	32.5 (25.3, 47.8)	P=0.016
Recover	47 (92.2)	28 (90.3)	19 (95.0)	P=0.942
Death	4 (7.8)	3 (9.7)	1 (5.0)

Notes: ^a11 cases of autoimmune diseases (5 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 3 cases of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, 1 case each of rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial pneumonia, dermatomyositis, and anti-Jo-1 antibody syndrome), 3 cases of nephrotic syndrome, 1 case of congenital aplastic anemia. ^b9cases of autoimmune diseases (6 cases of SLE, 2 cases of granulomatous/ systemic vasculitis and 1 case of rheumatoid arthritis), 3 cases of nephrotic syndrome, 1 case of IgA nephropathy, 1 case of atypical membranous nephropathy respectively, 1 case of aplastic anemia. ^c2 with pulmonary nocardia and 1 with biliary nocardia, all loss to follow-up. Data labeled in red represent statistically significant (P<0.05).

Figure 1 The identification results of Nocardia species in this study.

Figure 2 Sample distribution of Nocardia species in this study.

Data Sharing Statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding authors on reasonable requests.