Cavitated Lesion in a Patient Infected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Abstract

It is known that the progressive deterioration of the immune system in the human immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), either cellular or humoral level and the obligated role of exchange of the respiratory system with the external environment, makes the incidence of inflammatory, tumoral, and infectious lung processes high in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There are several microorganisms that can cause cavitated lung lesions in a HIV patient as Pneumocystis carinii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Staphylococcus aureus, among others. Rhodoccoccus equi (R. Equi) is, predominantly, an opportunistic pathogen who can also cause disease in humans, especially in immunocompromised patients. This report describe a case of Rhodococcus equi lung infection in a HIV patient, which highlights the importance of the therapheutic adherence and the epidemiological enviroment in this kind of patients.