TY - JOUR
T1 - Rhodococcus equi infections in immunocompetent hosts
T2 - case report and review
AU - Kedlaya, Indira
AU - Ing, Michael B.
AU - Wong, Sammy S.
N1 - Rhodococcus equi is a gram-positive coccobacillus that primarily causes zoonotic infections [ 1]. It is an uncommon cause of infections in humans. The infection is typically described in immunocompromised patients, especially those with AIDS. R. equi also causes infection in transplant recipients and patients with lymphoma, chronic renal failure, alcoholism, lung cancer, leukemia, diabetes mellitus, and other states of immunodeficiency.
PY - 2001/2/1
Y1 - 2001/2/1
N2 - Rhodococcus equi is an unusual cause of infection in humans. Infection in immunocompetent patients is extremely rare-only 19 cases in immunocompetent hosts have been reported. Localized infections represent nearly 50% of reported cases. Pulmonary infections account for only 42% of infections in immunocompetent hosts, compared with 84% of infections in immunocompromised hosts. The mortality rate among immunocompetent patients is approximately 11%, compared with rates of 50%-55% among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and 20%-25% among non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients. Treatment of infections in immunocompetent hosts depends on the site of infection. Serious infections need to be treated with combinations of parenteral antibiotics, followed by combinations of oral antibiotics. Surgical treatment is necessary for certain types of local infections. We report a pulmonary infection due to R. equi in an immunocompetent patient, and we review all reported cases of R. equi infection in immunocompetent hosts.
AB - Rhodococcus equi is an unusual cause of infection in humans. Infection in immunocompetent patients is extremely rare-only 19 cases in immunocompetent hosts have been reported. Localized infections represent nearly 50% of reported cases. Pulmonary infections account for only 42% of infections in immunocompetent hosts, compared with 84% of infections in immunocompromised hosts. The mortality rate among immunocompetent patients is approximately 11%, compared with rates of 50%-55% among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and 20%-25% among non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients. Treatment of infections in immunocompetent hosts depends on the site of infection. Serious infections need to be treated with combinations of parenteral antibiotics, followed by combinations of oral antibiotics. Surgical treatment is necessary for certain types of local infections. We report a pulmonary infection due to R. equi in an immunocompetent patient, and we review all reported cases of R. equi infection in immunocompetent hosts.
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U2 - 10.1086/318520
DO - 10.1086/318520
M3 - Review article
C2 - 11170969
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 32
SP - 39
EP - 46
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 3
ER -