Nocardia

Nocardia is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria found in soil and water, and is known to cause serious infections in humans. It is an important pathogen that can cause diseases known as nocardiosis. It can cause lung, brain and skin infections that are often difficult to diagnose and treat. The most common symptoms of a Nocardia infection are fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and skin lesions. Treatment typically consists of a combination of antibiotics. Nocardia is also important in the research of microbial biodegradation of pollutants, as some species are capable of converting toxic compounds into harmless substances.