Unusual Extrapulmonary Rhodococcus Equi Infection in a Kidney Transplant Patient

Rhodococcus equi is a well-recognized pathogen in veterinary medicine that can also affect immuno-compromised human subjects. The most common clinical features in humans include necrotizing pneumonia with subacute pulmonary disease, progressive cough, chest pain and fever. We report a case of a 49-year-old kidney transplant patient who developed a Rhodococcus equi infection characterized by multiple abscesses of the soft tissues and muscles without any respiratory manifestation. Combining specific antibiotic therapy and surgical management of the abscesses without immunosuppression discontinuation led to a complete recovery of both patient and graft.