Radiologic features of Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in AIDS

This report outlines the radiological features observed in three cases of Rhodococcus equi (R. equi) pneumonia in AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) and reviews another 45 radiological reports published of this emerging opportunistic pneumonia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected patients. The clinical signs in our three patients consisted in a subacute onset of respiratory symptoms and fever. A low lymphocyte count (< 200 cells/mm3), pulmonary infiltrates, and pleural effusion was present in all three cases. Cavitary pneumonia was observed in two patients, and pericardial effusion in another. In this series CD4 lymphocyte count < 200/mm3 was seen in 29 of the 48 patients (60.4%). All 48 patients had abnormal findings on chest radiographs. Abnormalities involved the upper lobes in 26 of the 48 patients (55%). Cavitation was reported in 37 of the 48 cases (77%). R. equi pneumonia may not be as the paucity of case reports suggest. Consequently, a cavitary pneumonia in HIV infected patients with a low CD4 lymphocyte count (< 200 mm3) with a subacute onset, an upper lobe predilection, and/or a poor response to conventional antibiotic therapy should be considered as suspect of R. equi infection.