Rhodococcus equi lung abscess complicating Evan's syndrome treated with corticosteroid

Respiration. 1998;65(4):327-30. doi: 10.1159/000029288.

Abstract

We report a case of Rhodococcus equi, an unusual pathogen, causing a right upper lobe lung abscess in a patient with Evan's syndrome (auto-immune haemolytic anaemia and thrombocytopenia) who was treated with high-dose corticosteroid therapy. The patient was treated successfully with clarithromycin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin and imipenen which appear to be effective in combination for this unusual condition in which the treatment regimen has been controversial.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Actinomycetales Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Actinomycetales Infections / drug therapy*
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / drug therapy
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Lung Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Abscess / drug therapy*
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Rhodococcus equi / isolation & purification*
  • Syndrome
  • Thrombocytopenia / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia / drug therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisolone