[Disseminated nocardiosis in a patient with haemophilia: a problem of differential diagnosis].

Nocardia is found worldwide in soils and dust. In immunocompromised patients the lungs appear to be the most common initial site of infection due to the inhalation of free living organisms. Nocardia asteroides is the most commonly isolated pathogenic Nocardia species. Pulmonary nocardiosis may mimic tuberculosis, staphylococcal or mycotic infections. Disseminated disease mainly occurs in immunocompromised patients with underlying illnesses such as chronic granulomatous disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, in patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, organ transplantation or prolonged glucocorticoid treatment. Subcutaneous infection occurs from trauma related inoculation of the organism. The Authors describe a clinical case regarding a patient with acquired haemophilia A, admitted to the hospital because of disseminated nocardiosis mimicking a neoplastic disease. He recovered completely after the antibiotic treatment.