Disseminated subcutaneous Nocardia farcinica abscesses in a nephrotic syndrome patient

We describe an unusual case of disseminated subcutaneous abscesses caused by Nocardia farcinica in a 49-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome. He had received systemic corticosteroid therapy for 5 months. He developed a submandibular abscess associated with sialoadenitis on the right submaxillary gland. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed connection between the submandibular abscess and the right submaxillary gland. The subcutaneous abscess spread from the submandibular triangle to the left axillary region, the left upper arm, the left hypochondriac region, the left scapular region, the right epigastric region, and the bilateral legs. A chest radiograph and computed tomograms of the chest and the brain did not reveal any pathologic changes. The patient was successfully treated by surgical drainage of the abscesses and by oral administration of minocycline.