Rhodococcal lung abscess in a renal transplant recipient

BACKGROUND: Rhodococcus species are relatively rare human pathogens, but are being increasingly recognized as causes of infection especially in immunosuppressed patients. CASE REPORT: We present a case of Rhodococcus lung abscess in a patient 10 months post-cadaveric renal transplant, successfully treated with a combination of antibiotics. She required a prolonged course of oral antibiotics for 6 months. She did not require surgical intervention. Chest X-rays and CT thorax showed complete resolution of the initial lesion. We also review the medical literature related to Rhodococcus infection in patients with renal transplantation. Rhodococcus infection should be considered as in the differential diagnosis of immunosuppressed patients who present with lung abscess/mass. CONCLUSIONS: A literature review indicates this is a potentially fatal condition with disseminated sepsis/abscesses.