Rhodococcus infection in immunocompetent patient - a case report

Rhodococcus equi rarely causes human infection, and most of the described cases are associated with immunosuppressed patients. The authors present a 65-year-old man who was admitted to the emergency department with worsening of dyspnea, cough and fever. He was admitted with a diagnosis of sepsis with respiratory starting point in multiple foci pneumonia and peritonitis. He was medicated empirically with ceftriaxone, with clinical improvement. Isolation in the ascites fluid of Rhodococcus spp. He completed two months of antibiotic treatment with doxycycline, with clinical, analytical and radiological improvement. The authors present this case due to the rarity of the situation and highlight the need for a high index of suspicion for the infection diagnosis by this agent in immunocompetent patients.