Prevalence of Nocardia species among HIV-positive patients with suspected tuberculosis

The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of nocardiosis in HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals clinically suspected of having tuberculosis (TB). The study population (n = 171) were those who attended chest hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan, between January and March 2010. The patients suffered from pulmonary infections with positive acid-fast bacilli. Blood (n = 171) and sputum (n = 171) samples were collected simultaneously. Blood samples were tested serologically for the presence of antibodies using HIV/Intensified Combination Prevention (ICP) test and sputum were cultured onto Lowenstein Jensen slants according to standard methods. Isolates showing rapid growth characteristic of Nocardiae were subcultured and subsequently identified using glucose yeast extract agar medium. All candidates in the study population (n = 171) suffered from pulmonary infections, nocardiosis was diagnosed in 4% (n = 7), HIV-positive cases were 17 (9.9%). Five Nocardia species were isolated from HIV-negative patients whereas two were from HIV-positive patients. Nocardia spp. cause pulmonary infections (4.09%) in both immunocompetent (2.92%) as well as immunocompromised (1.17%) patients who attend chest clinics in Sudan.