Nocardia asteroides infection with dissemination to skin and joints

A 56-year-old diabetic woman developed multiple cutaneous lesions and septic arthritis secondary to disseminated Nocardia asteroides pulmonary infection. The diagnosis was made rapidly by Gram's and acid-fast stains of pus, sputum, and synovial fluid and later confirmed by cultures. Sulfonamides are the drugs of choice for nocardiosis, and this patient had a complete response to two weeks of intravenous trimethoprim and sulfamethoxasole followed by three months of oral therapy.