Nocardiosis In Kidney Transplant Patients: Two Cases of a Rare but Life-Threatening Disease and a Narrative Review of the Medical Literature.

Nocardiosis is an uncommon but serious opportunistic bacterial infection caused by the genus Nocardia. Immunosuppression significantly increases the risk of infection, with an incidence of 0.4% to 3.6% in renal transplant patients. This disease primarily affects the lungs, skin, and central nervous system (CNS), but it can also disseminate to other parts of the body, significantly increasing the associated mortality. Although it can be challenging, early diagnosis is crucial, as it may be life-saving. The primary treatment for nocardiosis involves long-term antibiotic therapy. However, this treatment is often complicated by poor tolerance due to renal function impairment, requiring close monitoring and individualized treatment. In this report, we present two cases of nocardiosis, highlighting the complexities of diagnosis and management in renal transplant patients.