Disseminated Nocardia transvalensis complex and farcinica: First case in an immunocompetent

BACKGROUND: Nocardiae is an opportunistic infection mainly of the immunocompromised patient without sparing the immunocompetent subject or without any identified risk factors. They can be localized or disseminated. The extreme rarity of this infection often results in a deleterious diagnostic delay. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a first case of community acquired pneumonia with asymptomatic disseminated brain abscess due to Nocardia transvalensis/wallacei and farcinica in an immunocompetent man. The patient fully recovered after receiving optimized antimicrobial therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that health care professionals should always evoke this diagnosis when confronted to atypical community-acquired pneumonia, even in immunocompetent patients.