Ventilator-dependent pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Nocardiosis is a rare infectious disease entity that mostly affects the lungs, brain, or skin of immunocompromised individuals. Recent reports of pulmonary nocardiosis (PN) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the only risk factor suggest a possible association between nocardiosis and COPD. Herein, we present a case of ventilator-dependent PN in a patient with a moderate degree of COPD. A high level of suspicion for PN should be maintained when encountered with COPD patients complaining of symptoms of pneumonia and excessive thirst.