Multiple systemic infections caused by Rhodococcus equi: case report

Background: Rhodococcus equi, is one of the most important causes of zoonotic infections in grazing animals, especially in the patients who are immunosuppressed or long-term treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Case presentation: We report a case of Rhodococcus equi in a 65-year-old man with diabetes, hypertension and adultonset Still’s disease, on long term hormone therapy. This non-HIV infected man with blood, lung tissue and sputum infected by R. equi. Initially the patient failed to improve on multiple therapy including vancomycin and meropenem. Although the symptoms improved after adjusting the application of antibiotics according to the susceptibility, the patient had not healed upon discharge. Conclusions: In recent years the number of Rhodococcus equi cases has been increasing. We describe herein the lethal case of R. equi infection in a non-HIV person.