Pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--case report and literature review

Abstract

Nocardiosis is an infrequent but potentially serious pulmonary infection that typically affects patients with immune suppression or structural lung disease. We report a case of a 70-year-old patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with inhaled steroids, theophylline, short-acting beta-agonists and anticholinergics, and long-term oxygen therapy, who presented with non-resolving pneumonia. Following a diagnosis of nocardiosis, made based on sputum culture, the patient was treated with trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole and then, due to treatment side effects, with minocycline. We review the literature data on nocardiosis in COPD patients.