Rhodococcus equi brain abscess in a patient without HIV

Rhodococcus equi, a Gram positive organism, is a cause of infections in immunocompromised individuals. In humans, it mainly causes disease in those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and generally presents as chronic pulmonary infection. It may also cause intracranial infections, which manifest as brain abscesses. This report describes a case of rhodococcus brain and pulmonary infection in a patient who did not have HIV or another disorder of cell mediated immunity. He was treated with intravenous imipenem, vancomycin, and rifampin for eight weeks and recovered from the infection.