Haemoptysis and an abnormal X-ray after prolonged treatment in the ICU

We describe a case of Nocardia bronchopneumonia occurring in a patient after 5 weeks of treatment in an ICU. The clinical features were haemoptysis and fever, and an aspecific coarse nodular pattern on the chest roentgenogram. The diagnosis was made, after death, by positive blood cultures for Nocardia asteroides and autopsy showing Nocardia bronchopneumonia.