Venous access port-related nocardia bacteremia with successful short-term antibiotics treatment

Nocardia infection occurs primarily among patients with deficient cell-mediated immunity. The portal of entry in the majority of patients with Nocardia infection is pulmonary origin. Central venous catheter-associated bacteremia caused by Nocardia species is very rare, and the optimal management for these situations was indeterminate. Most patients were cured after discontinuation of central venous catheter and prolonged antibiotics use. Thereafter, we reported an 18-year-old male who received chemotherapy for his nasal rhabdomyosarcoma had central venous catheter-associated N. asteroids bacteremia. The outcome was satisfying after discontinuation of central venous catheter followed by short-term antibiotics. Conclusively, prolonged antibiotics may not be necessary in catheter-associated Nocardia bacteremia without distant metastatic site after removal of catheter.