CURRENT ASPECTS OF PULMONARY NOCARDIOSIS

The nocardioses are,nest often due to Nocardia asteroides. Other types of Nocardia may be implicated These infections may occur in immunocom petent patients and in that situation are most often cutaneous. They o ccur most frequently in patients whose immunity is depressed by cytoto xic therapy or in the group with AIDS (SIDA). The clinical presentatio n in these two latter groups are most often pulmonary. Haematological or lymphatic dissemination is seen in approximately one case out of tw o with preferential involvement of the central nervous system. Current ly a recrudescence of these infections is noted. It is important to em phasise that these infections are curable with antibiotic therapy and that the prognosis depends on the rapidity of the diagnosis and the ea rliness of treatment.