Neonatal sepsis due to Rhodococcus equi in two preterm infants

Bildik H. N., Takci S., YURDAKÖK M., KARA A.

TURKISH JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS, vol.55, no.2, pp.229-231, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 55 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.229-231
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

We present two cases of Rhodococcus equi bacteremia as a cause of sepsis in premature infants who had increasing respiratory distress with multiple episodes of apnea. When we investigated these infants for apnea etiology, blood cultures were taken, and R. equi was confirmed based on the colony characteristics on nutrient agar; extended antibiotherapy was started. R. equi has been identified frequently as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Infection in immunocompetent patients is rare. R. equi infection in the neonatal period is also rare, and to our knowledge, these are the first cases of R. equi as a sepsis agent in preterm infants.