[Current aspects of pulmonary nocardiosis].

The nocardioses are most often due to Nocardia asteroides. Other types of Nocardia may be implicated. These infections may occur in immunocompetent patients and in that situation are most often cutaneous. They occur most frequently in patients whose immunity is depressed by cytotoxic therapy or in the group with AIDS (SIDA). The clinical presentation in these two latter groups are most often pulmonary. Haematological or lymphatic dissemination is seen in approximately one case out of two with preferential involvement of the central nervous system. Currently a recrudescence of these infections is noted. It is important to emphasise that these infections are curable with antibiotic therapy and that the prognosis depends on the rapidity of the diagnosis and the earliness of treatment.