Infection with Nocardia pneumoniae in a 54-year-old woman with bronchiectasis - a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Nocardia spp. are rare but clinically relevant pathogens in patients with structural lung disease and/or immunosuppression. Nocardia pneumoniae was first described in 2004; however, its clinical relevance has remained unclear due to the limited number of reported cases to date.

METHODS

Case report and review of the literature.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 54-year-old female with bronchiectasis who presented with pulmonary exacerbation and was diagnosed with an infection with Nocardia pneumoniae. The current case was successfully treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole monotherapy over 12 weeks.

CONCLUSION

We propose that Nocardia pneumoniae should be considered clinically significant. The management of nocardiosis remains difficult, as reliable evidence on optimal antimicrobial strategies, appropriate treatment duration, and the need for secondary prophylaxis is still lacking.