Constrictive pericarditis from Nocardia asteroides infection

Human nocardiosis usually involves the respiratory tract or the skin but may disseminate to virtually any organ. It occurs in immunocompromised hosts as well as individuals with no apparent predisposition. Involvement of the pericardium is uncommon, having been reported infrequently in the past, but mandates surgical management. This report describes the course of a patient with chronic constrictive pericarditis from nocardia successfully treated with pericardiectomy and appropriate antibiotic therapy.