Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Introduction. Rhodococcus (R) equi is an opportunistic, uncommon human pathogen that causes mainly infection in immunocompromised hosts. The disease is usually presented as subacute pneumonia that is mostly cavitary and sometimes bacteremic. Case report. We reported the extremly rare case o...

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Main Authors: Mikić Dragan, Đorđević Zoran, Kojić Miroslav, Tomanović Branka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, Belgrade 2014-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
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Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2014/0042-84501300035M.pdf
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author Mikić Dragan
Đorđević Zoran
Kojić Miroslav
Tomanović Branka
author_facet Mikić Dragan
Đorđević Zoran
Kojić Miroslav
Tomanović Branka
author_sort Mikić Dragan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Rhodococcus (R) equi is an opportunistic, uncommon human pathogen that causes mainly infection in immunocompromised hosts. The disease is usually presented as subacute pneumonia that is mostly cavitary and sometimes bacteremic. Case report. We reported the extremly rare case of a 43-year-old woman with Hodgkin's lymphoma, who developed R. equi pulmonary infection after recieving multiple courses of chemotherapy. Secondary, the patient developed bacteremia, leading to sepsis and dissemination of R. equi infection in many extrapulmonary sites. At addmission the patient was febrile, tachypnoic, tachycardic, hypotensive, with facial edema, splenomegaly, positive meningeal signs, left hemiparesis and paraparesis. Laboratory data included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 140 mm/h, C-reactive protein (CRP) 143.0 mg/L, red blood cells (RBC) 2.14 × 1012/L, whyite blood cells (WBC) 2.8 × 109/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 706 U/L, serum albumin 26 g/L, sodium 127 mmol/L and potassium 2.7 mmol/L. Blood culture and culture of sputum and empyema were positive for R. equi. Imaging studies demonstrated a large right cavitary pneumonia and abscess, empyema, pericarditis, mediastinal and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy, brain and psoas abscesses, osteomyelitis and spondylodiscitis. The patient recovered completely after a 12-month treatment with combinations of parenteral and oral antibiotics (meropenem, vancomycin, teicoplanin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, macrolides etc), including drainage of abscesses and empyema. Eight years after completition of the treatment the patient was without recurrence of R. equi infection and lymphoma. Conclusion. Since the eradication od R. equi is very difficult, it is very important to make the diagnosis and initiate appropriate antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.
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spelling doaj-art-9dd8cc7ee88642c2a66f0f0747d4d9be2025-08-20T03:38:26ZengMinistry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia, University of Defence, BelgradeVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502014-01-0171331732410.2298/VSP121218035M0042-84501300035MDisseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphomaMikić Dragan0Đorđević Zoran1Kojić Miroslav2Tomanović Branka3Military Medical Academy, Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Belgrade + University of Defence, Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, BelgradeMilitary Medical Academy, Institute for Radiology, BelgradeMilitary Medical Academy, Clinic for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, BelgradeMilitary Medical Academy, Institute for Microbiology, BelgradeIntroduction. Rhodococcus (R) equi is an opportunistic, uncommon human pathogen that causes mainly infection in immunocompromised hosts. The disease is usually presented as subacute pneumonia that is mostly cavitary and sometimes bacteremic. Case report. We reported the extremly rare case of a 43-year-old woman with Hodgkin's lymphoma, who developed R. equi pulmonary infection after recieving multiple courses of chemotherapy. Secondary, the patient developed bacteremia, leading to sepsis and dissemination of R. equi infection in many extrapulmonary sites. At addmission the patient was febrile, tachypnoic, tachycardic, hypotensive, with facial edema, splenomegaly, positive meningeal signs, left hemiparesis and paraparesis. Laboratory data included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) > 140 mm/h, C-reactive protein (CRP) 143.0 mg/L, red blood cells (RBC) 2.14 × 1012/L, whyite blood cells (WBC) 2.8 × 109/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) 706 U/L, serum albumin 26 g/L, sodium 127 mmol/L and potassium 2.7 mmol/L. Blood culture and culture of sputum and empyema were positive for R. equi. Imaging studies demonstrated a large right cavitary pneumonia and abscess, empyema, pericarditis, mediastinal and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy, brain and psoas abscesses, osteomyelitis and spondylodiscitis. The patient recovered completely after a 12-month treatment with combinations of parenteral and oral antibiotics (meropenem, vancomycin, teicoplanin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin, macrolides etc), including drainage of abscesses and empyema. Eight years after completition of the treatment the patient was without recurrence of R. equi infection and lymphoma. Conclusion. Since the eradication od R. equi is very difficult, it is very important to make the diagnosis and initiate appropriate antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2014/0042-84501300035M.pdfRhodococcus equiHodgkin diseaseimmunologic deficiency syndromesinfectionsepsisanti-bacterial agentsdrug therapy, combination
spellingShingle Mikić Dragan
Đorđević Zoran
Kojić Miroslav
Tomanović Branka
Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Rhodococcus equi
Hodgkin disease
immunologic deficiency syndromes
infection
sepsis
anti-bacterial agents
drug therapy, combination
title Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
title_full Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
title_fullStr Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
title_full_unstemmed Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
title_short Disseminated Rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with Hodgkin’s lymphoma
title_sort disseminated rhodococcus equi infection in a patient with hodgkin s lymphoma
topic Rhodococcus equi
Hodgkin disease
immunologic deficiency syndromes
infection
sepsis
anti-bacterial agents
drug therapy, combination
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2014/0042-84501300035M.pdf
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AT đorđeviczoran disseminatedrhodococcusequiinfectioninapatientwithhodgkinslymphoma
AT kojicmiroslav disseminatedrhodococcusequiinfectioninapatientwithhodgkinslymphoma
AT tomanovicbranka disseminatedrhodococcusequiinfectioninapatientwithhodgkinslymphoma