Retrospective analysis of nocardiosis in a general hospital from 1998 to 2017.

•The miscellaneous clinical spectrum of nocardiosis usually leads to a delayed and difficult diagnosis.•We presented the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic features of nocardiosis from a French general hospital standpoint.•Cutaneous, pulmonary, or disseminated presentations occur with different risk factors and can affect both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.•Susceptibility testing is difficult and may differ between laboratories.•We reported the use of linezolid, that could be very useful in treating nocardiosis.•Our study complements clinical experience of this difficult and unknown infection.