Rhodococcus equi pulmonary–central nervous system syndrome: brain abscess in a patient on high-dose steroids—a case report and review of the literature

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 96 - 99
• Main Authors: Roda, Ricardo Horacio, Young, Mary, Timpone, Joseph, Rosen, Jessica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.01.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Actinomycetales Infections - complications; Actinomycetales Infections - diagnosis; Actinomycetales Infections - drug therapy; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - adverse effects; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - pathology; Brain abscess; Brain Abscess - complications; Brain Abscess - diagnosis; Brain Abscess - drug therapy; CNS–pulmonary syndrome; Corticosteroids; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunity, Cellular - drug effects; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - complications; Lung Diseases, Interstitial - drug therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Ofloxacin - therapeutic use; Prednisone - adverse effects; Prednisone - therapeutic use; Radiography, Thoracic; Rhodococcus; Rhodococcus equi; Rhodococcus equi - isolation & purification; Thorax - pathology; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Brain abscess; Rhodococcus; CNS–pulmonary syndrome; Corticosteroids; Human; Steroid; Corticosteroid; Nervous system diseases; Microbiology; Central nervous system; CNS-pulmonary syndrome; Review; Rhodococcus equi; Cerebral disorder; Case study; Infection; Central nervous system disease; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Veterinary
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.08.024

Abstract Rhodococcus equi has emerged as an opportunistic pathogen usually causing necrotizing pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients but has been found increasingly in extrapulmonary sites. We report the 1st case of R. equi brain abscess in a patient receiving corticosteroid monotherapy and review the literature for risk factors and sites of infection.