Rhodococcus equi venous catheter infection: a case report and review of the literature
2011

Rhodococcus equi Infection in a Cancer Patient

Sample size: 1 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Rosalinda Guerrero, Ashish Bhargava, Zeina Nahleh

Primary Institution: TTUHSC-Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Hypothesis

Rhodococcus equi should be considered a serious pathogen in immunocompromised patients with central venous catheters.

Conclusion

R. equi should be treated as a serious pathogen, especially in immunocompromised patients with central venous catheters.

Supporting Evidence

  • R. equi is often underestimated as a pathogen.
  • Most cases occur in immunocompromised patients.
  • Central venous catheter-related infections with R. equi are rare.

Takeaway

A woman with cancer got very sick from a germ called R. equi that came from her catheter. Doctors learned they need to take this germ seriously.

Methodology

Case report and literature review.

Limitations

Only one case is reported, limiting generalizability.

Participant Demographics

63-year-old Caucasian woman with endometrial carcinoma.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1752-1947-5-358

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