Actinomycotic Mycetoma : Nocardia

Comments:
This patient contracted a nocardiosis infection of his right upper arm due to gram-positive Nocardia brasiliensis bacteria resulting in formation of an actinomycotic mycetoma. There is cellulitic inflammation of the upper arm with multiple draining sinuses.

Overall, 80% of nocardiosis cases present as invasive pulmonary infection, disseminated infection, or brain abscess. Remaining 20% present as cellulitis. Image courtesy of: Dr. Libero Ajello, CDC Public Health Image Library.