Incidence of pulmonary infection due to Nocardia species in Nigeria.

Pulmonary infection due to Nocardia sp. was investigated in 600 patients of various bronchopulmonary disorders by direct microscopy of sputum samples and cultures on appropriate media. Pathogenic Nocardia species were isolated from 25 patients, giving 4.1% incidence of infection. The species of Nocardia represented were N. asteroides (21 isolates), N. otitidis-caviarum and N. brasiliensis (2 isolates each). Paraffin baiting technique proved to be more efficacious than culturing on glucose nutrient agar.