Nocardia pneumonitis and the adult respiratory distress syndrome.

This report describes the progression of an acute regional Nocardia pneumonitis to diffuse pulmonary parenchymal disease in a previously healthy man. The pathophysiologic manifestations of disease evolved from that of a severe bacterial pneumonia to the adult respiratory distress syndrome. This progression may be representative of pyogenic bacterial pneumonias, which are associated with the syndrome even when the infections are adequately treated.