title: Rhodococcus equi infection after alemtuzumab therapy for T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Rhodococcus equi, mainly known from veterinary medicine as a pathogen in domestic animals, can also cause infections in immunocompromised humans, especially in those with defects in cellular immunity. Alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, causes lymphocytopenia by eliminating CD52-positive cells. We report a patient in whom Rhodococcus equi infection developed after alemtuzumab therapy.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands. j.j.meeuse@int.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Meeuse
authors.forename: Herman G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Sprenger
authors.forename: Sander
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Assen
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leduc
authors.forename: Simon M G J
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Daenen
authors.forename: Jan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Arends
authors.forename: Tjip S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: van der Werf
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000368:Aged; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015461:Leukemia, Prolymphocytic, T-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016929:Rhodococcus equi
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab