[Nocardiosis: 4 cases in Senegal].

The purpose of this report is to describe four cases of nocardiosis observed over an eight-year period in medical units of Principal Hospital in Dakar, Senegal. It is a rare infection occurring mainly in people with weakened immune systems. Pulmonary forms are predominate and clinical and laboratory presentation can mimic pulmonary tuberculosis. Diagnosis should be suspected in patients presenting pulmonary infections and negative sputum bacilloscopy. Nocardia bacteria should be identified before starting antibiotic treatment. Patients require long-term antibiotic treatment with third generation cephalosporins or sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim.