title: Persistent Rhodococcus equi infection in a renal transplant patient: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Rhodococcus equi is a pathogen that mainly causes infection in immunocompromised hosts. We report a case of relapsing R. equi pulmonary infection in a 57-year-old male renal transplant recipient who was treated with 12 months of antibiotics, adjunctive surgery, and a reduction in his immunosuppression. He suffered from relapsing disease, treatment-related complications, and ultimately died of Pneumocystis pneumonia. Case reports in the literature portray a good cure rate for transplant-related R. equi infections, with shorter durations of antibiotics. The case illustrates the difficulties in the management of R. equi infections. Forty cases from the literature were reviewed and compared in terms of epidemiology, location of infection, transplant type, immunosuppression used, treatment used, outcomes, and possible exposures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Concord Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cheong
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents