Nocardia and Mycobacterium fortuitum infection in a case of lipoid pneumonia

Abstract

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia is a potential problem with any form of oil aspiration. The association of Mycobacterium fortuitum with lipoid pneumonia is a rare occurrence and ascribed to as yet-unknown interplay between the oil in the pulmonary parenchyma and the waxy Mycobacterial cell wall. We describe a case of lipoid pneumonia due to “oil aspiration”, complicated by infection with Mycobacterium fortuitum as well as Nocardia, in an individual with no obvious immune deficiencies.