[Acute otitis media caused by Nocardia asteroides]

Nocardia asteroides is a bacteria that is distributed widely in nature and produces infection in most organs. Pulmonary nocardiosis is the most common form of clinical presentation. Few references exist regarding ear disease produced by this microorganism. A case of acute otitis media caused by N. asteroides produced subtotal tympanic perforation in a 45-year-old immunocompetent patient. The causal diagnosis was made by pure culture growth, repeated isolation and visualization of the microorganism in Gram-stained specimens of ear exudate. The strain was resistant to cotrimoxazole, but the patient was treated successfully with ciprofloxacin.