[Lung abscess caused by Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi in HIV infection. Two cases]

Rhodococcus (Corynebacterium) equi is a well-known Gram positive bacillus which is usually pathogenic in farm animals but rarely causes diseases in humans. Only 30 cases of human infection have been reported in the literature. R. equi has recently been added to the list of opportunistic agents in severe HIV infection. Its most common manifestation in immunocompromised is a slowly progressive pneumonia which may cavitate. R. equi pulmonary infections are difficult to treat: they usually require prolonged parenteral antibiotic therapy and often need surgical treatment. Two cases of cavitary pneumonia in patients with severe HIV infection are reported here. In one case the disease was associated with pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma and pneumocystis pneumonia; the other case was the first opportunistic infection in the course of HIV infection.