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USMLE/1
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Textbook
1. Anatomy
2. Microbiology
2.1 General bacteriology
2.2 Introduction to systemic bacteriology
2.3 Gram positive cocci
2.4 Gram negative cocci
2.5 Gram positive bacilli
2.6 Gram negative bacilli
2.7 Other important bacteria
2.7.1 Overview
2.7.2 Helicobacter pylori
2.7.3 Campylobacter jejuni
2.7.4 Haemophilus influenzae
2.7.5 Bordetella pertussis
2.7.6 Legionella pneumophila
2.7.7 Brucella
2.7.8 Mycobacteria
2.7.9 Actinomycetes
2.7.10 Nocardia
2.7.11 Mycoplasma pneumoniae
2.7.12 Treponema pallidum
2.7.13 Borrelia burgdorferi
2.7.14 Chlamydia / Chlamydophila
2.7.15 Rickettsia
2.7.16 Coxiella burnetii
2.7.17 Additional information
2.8 Virology
2.9 Parasitology
2.10 Mycology
3. Physiology
4. Pathology
5. Pharmacology
6. Immunology
7. Biochemistry
8. Cell and molecular biology
9. Biostatistics and epidemiology
10. Genetics
11. Behavioral science
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2.7.10 Nocardia
Achievable USMLE/1
2. Microbiology
2.7. Other important bacteria

Nocardia

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They resemble Actinomyces morphologically being Gram positive, branching filaments. They can be differentiated from Actinomyces as Nocardia are weakly acid fast while Actinomyces are not acid fast. They are strict aerobes causing pneumonia and subcutaneous granulomas called mycetomas.

The lung infection can present as a miliary pneumonia, lung abscess, nodule or empyema which may disseminate systemically. Samples are pus, sputum, granules which can be Gram stained to show typical morphology and will be weakly acid fast with a dilute solution of HCl or dilute 1% sulphuric acid. Unlike Actinomyces, Nocardia will grow aerobically to form dry, wrinkled colonies.

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