Cavitary pneumonia due to Rhodococcus equi in a heart transplant recipient

Transpl Infect Dis. 2003 Mar;5(1):43-6. doi: 10.1034/j.1399-3062.2003.02001.x.

Abstract

Rhodococcus equi is an uncommon human pathogen that usually affects immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a 68-year-old male heart transplant recipient, who developed rhodococcal pneumonia with secondary bacteremia 10 months post-transplant. The patient was a retired carpenter who was involved in breeding of horses. He responded completely to the treatment with vancomycin and imipenem/cilastin, followed by oral ciprofloxacin and minocycline for total treatment duration of 5 months. This case highlights the association between an animal exposure and infection with a unique opportunistic pathogen.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / diagnosis*
  • Actinomycetales Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Actinomycetales Infections / pathology
  • Aged
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Heart Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / pathology
  • Rhodococcus equi* / isolation & purification
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed