Bronchoscopy-associated dissemination of pulmonary nocardiosis caused by Nocardia terpenica in an immunocompetent patient with bronchiectasis: A case report

This is the first report suggesting that bronchoscopy, particularly BAL, can disseminate a localized airway Nocardia infection, causing acute disseminated pulmonary nocardiosis. Extreme caution is warranted when performing bronchoscopy in bronchiectasis patients with suspected or confirmed nocardiosis. For disseminated pulmonary nocardiosis, intensive combination therapy for at least 3 weeks is mandatory to prevent relapse, regardless of a rapid initial response.