Nocardia cyriacigeorgica pleural empyema in an immunocompromised patient

A case of fatal Nocardia cyriacigeorgica pleural empyema in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and long-term corticosteroid therapy is described. The organism was isolated from the pleural fluid in pure culture and was identified by conventional and molecular methods. Despite the early administration of the appropriate antibiotic treatment, the patient died 4 days after hospital admission. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.