Abstract
A 54-year-old male admitted to our hospital with complaints of dry cough and general malaise. He drank heavily and was diagnosed a having diabetes mellitus on admission. Chest X-ray showed bilateral multiple infiltration. Bronchofiberscopy was performed after admission and Nocardia brasiliensis was isolated from tracheal secretions, bronchial washings and bronchoalveolar lavage. Pulmonary nocardiosis was diagnosed. After administration of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ), symptoms and bilateral multiple infiltration shadows on X-ray improved. Leukopenia caused cessation of treatment with TMP-SMZ. Minocycline obtained clinical improvement. Nocardia is sometimes detected from sputum of healthy persons, and bronchofiberscopy in this case was useful for the early diagnosis of pulmonary nocardiosis. It is necessary to pay attention to adverse reactions such as leukopenia during the course of the therapy. It is rare for N. brasiliensis to be detected in nocardiosis.
