Treatment of central line associated Rhodococcus equi bacteremia with an oral antibiotic regimen in a pediatric oncology patient

Abstract

Rhodococcus equi is an emerging pathogen among immunocompromised hosts. Increased incidence has been described in the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome population, patients immunocompromised due to organ transplantation and in those receiving chemotherapy. Features associated with this case included a sustained bacteremia and delay in recognition of the clinical syndrome due to the intermittent positivity of the blood cultures and initial mis-identification of the organism as a "coryneform" contaminant. The patient was successfully treated with an oral antibiotic regimen after removal of the central catheter.

Keywords

Rhodococcus equi - catheter-associated bacteremia - oral antibiotics