Progress in research of distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility characteristics of clinical isolates of Nocardia in China

Nocardiosis, caused by Nocardia and characterized by localized or hematogenous disseminated infections and life-threatening in severe cases, is a disease with global concern, which needs accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment. Understanding the distributions and antimicrobial susceptibility characteristics of different Nocardia species in China is crucial for the clinical treatment. However, current data on Nocardia distribution and antimicrobial resistance in China are mainly from small-scale studies rather than nationwide systematic and continuous surveillance. This paper systematically summarizes the isolation background, identification methods, geographic distributions of different species of Nocardia, and the antimicrobial resistance of the clinical strains of Nocardia in China collected from relevant literature published as of January 31, 2025 to provide reference for rational clinical antibiotic use and systematic surveillance for Nocardia in China.