Rhodococcus equi Follow-up

  • Author: Indira Kedlaya, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Nov 21, 2011
 

Further Inpatient Care

  • Patients with R equi infection should be monitored for clinical improvement following treatment. Repeat imaging may be necessary. Any pleural effusion that develops may require drainage.
  • Provide follow-up care for adverse effects of antibiotics and drug interactions, especially in patients infected with HIV who are on antiretroviral medications.
  • Provide good supportive care.
  • Consider outpatient management once improvement with antibiotics is observed.
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Further Outpatient Care

  • Ensure compliance with antibiotics.
  • Monitor for resolution. Antibiotics can be discontinued after complete resolution is achieved.
  • Watch for relapse, especially in patients infected with HIV.
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Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

  • Outpatient continuation of antibiotics
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Deterrence/Prevention

  • Patients, especially those who are immunocompromised, should exercise caution in contact with farm animals. This especially is true on dry windy days.
  • Implement good hygienic measures when eating fresh farm vegetables.
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Prognosis

  • In general, the prognosis of R equi infection depends on the underlying immunosuppressive conditions and other concurrent infections. Early diagnosis and treatment may prevent chronicity and relapses.
  • Prognosis is favorable in most local R equi infections and among immunocompetent children.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Indira Kedlaya, MD  Provider, Sunshine Medical Group, PLLC

Indira Kedlaya, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Michael Ing, MD  Chief, Section of Infectious Disease, JL Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Michael Ing, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of HIV Medicine, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, HIV Medicine Association of America, Infectious Diseases Society of America, International AIDS Society, Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Larry I Lutwick, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York Downstate Medical School; Director, Infectious Diseases, Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Health Care System, Brooklyn Campus

Larry I Lutwick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Aaron Glatt, MD  Professor of Clinical Medicine, New York Medical College; President and CEO, Former Chief Medical Officer, Departments of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, St Joseph Hospital (formerly New Island Hospital)

Aaron Glatt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Thoracic Society, American Venereal Disease Association, Infectious Diseases Society of America, International AIDS Society, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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Chest radiograph of a patient with Rhodococcus equi infection showing multiple nodular infiltrates.
Chest radiograph of a patient with Rhodococcus equi infection demonstrating cavitation of pulmonary nodules.
Chest CT scan of a patient with Rhodococcus equi infection demonstrating nodular infiltrates.
 
 
 
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