A clinical case report of brain abscess caused by Nocardia brasiliensis in a non-immunocompromised patient and a relevant literature review

BACKGROUND: Brain abscess due to the Nocardia genus is rare and usually found in immunocompromised patients. The most common subtype implicated is Nocardia farcinica while brain abscess due to Nocardia brasiliensis is comparatively rare. Diagnosis of brain abscess is based mainly on bacteriological culture from pus collected at the site of infection, and brain imaging. Stereotaxic aspiration or surgical resection combined with adequate duration of treatment with antibiotics to which the bacteria are sensitive represent effective treatment strategies. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a rare case of brain abscess caused by Nocardia brasiliensis in a non-immunocompromised patient. He admitted to our hospital twice with a headache. Stereotaxic aspiration was performed at the patient’s first appointment at the hospital, and a craniotomy was used to excise the lesion during subsequent abscess recurrence. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis, reasonable surgical intervention, and adequate duration of treatment with effective antibiotics are critical for treating brain abscess.