====== Nocardia brain abscess ======

The diagnosis is suspected in high-risk patients presenting with soft-tissue abscesses and CNS
lesions. CNS involvement occurs in about one-third and includes:

1. cerebral abscess: often multiloculated

2. meningitis

3. ventriculitis in patients with [[cerebrospinal fluid shunt]]
((Byrne E, Brophy BP, Pettett LV. Nocardia Cerebral
Abscess: New Concepts in Diagnosis, Management,
and Prognosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1979;
42:1038–1045))

4. epidural spinal cord compression from [[vertebral osteomyelitis]]
((Awad I, Bay JW, Petersen JM. Nocardial Osteomyelitis of the Spine with Epidural Spinal Cord
Compression - A Case Report. Neurosurgery. 1984;
15:254–256))