Rhodococcus equi endocarditis in immunocompetent hosts: report of the first two cases

MARIE-FRANCOISE TRIPODI; DANIEL E. VIGO; EMANUELE DURANTE-MANGONI; ALBERTO LIFSCHITZ; G. RALPH COREY; MARTIN E. STRYJEWSKI; RICCARDO UTILI; DANIEL PRYLUKA; INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION ON ENDOCARDITIS PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2009 vol. 34 p. 496 - 497

0924-8579

Rhodococcus equi is a Gram-positive coccobacillus causing lower respiratory tract infections in subjects with impaired immunity; R. equi infections are rare in immunocompetent subjects. Although uncommon, extrapulmonary involvement has been described. In an old series, a prosthetic valve culture positive for Rhodococcus spp. was reported. Within the International Collaboration on Endocarditis, we observed two cases of R. equi endocarditis. Here we describe their clinical features and highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.