[Infection due to Rhodococcus equi in HIV infected patients: four cases].
BACKGROUND
Incidence of Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) infection is increasing parallel to a greater prevalence of immunosupressed patients. This study aims to describe clinico-epidemiological characteristics of R. equi infections in a single hospital.


METHODS
Retrospective, observational study that includes any patient diagnosed of R. equi infection during the 1999-2007 period. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were recorded.


RESULTS
Four patients were diagnosed of R. equi infection, with a mean age of 37.75+/-9.94 years old. All of them were male, infected with human immunodeficiency virus, and showed severe immunosuppression (mean CD4+ lymphocyte count of 83+/-55.2 cells/microl). Respiratory symptoms and cavitary pulmonary lesions were constantly present. R. equi was always cultured in blood and respiratory secretions.


CONCLUSIONS
R. equi infection is a rare disease that occurs predominantly in HIV infected patients, severely immunosuppressed patients and almost always causes cavitary pneumonia.
Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, España. jopesilver@hotmail.com
J
J
Perez-Silvestre
V
V
Abril López de Medrano
E
E
Ortega González
D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016929:Rhodococcus equi