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Rhodococcus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Robert D. Walsh ,
Paul E. Schochd  and
Burke A. Cunha
Robert D. Walsh
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Division and the Department of Pathology, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, New York, and the University of New York School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York
Paul E. Schochd
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Division and the Department of Pathology, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, New York, and the University of New York School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York
Burke A. Cunha*
Affiliation:
Infectious Disease Division and the Department of Pathology, Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, New York, and the University of New York School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York
*
Winthrop-University Hospital, Mineola, NY 11501
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Extract

Infections due to Rhodococcus species are being reported with increasing frequency, especially among immunocompromised and HIV patients. R equi is the most commonly isolated species, usually from HIV patients with chronic cavitary pneumonia. Other species of Rhodococcus involved in human infections include R bronchialis, R terrae, R rhodochrous, and R aurantiacus.

Organisms belonging to the genus Rhodococcus are widely distributed in nature, but are particularly abundant in soil. Trauma, steroids, immunosuppressive therapy, surgical procedures, HIV and immune-compromised status predispose patients to infection with Rhodococcus.

Information

Type
Topics in Clinical Microbiology
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 14 , Issue 5 , May 1993 , pp. 282 - 287
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1993

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