Resumo

DIAZ-CORRALES, FJ  e  SERRANO, JA. Rhodococcus equi in humans. Clinical and therapeutics aspects. Rev. Soc. Ven. Microbiol. [online]. 2003, vol.23, n.2, pp.131-134. ISSN 1315-2556.

The authors present an overview on the microbiology, clinical and therapeutic aspects of the infections caused by Rhodococcus equi in humans. The paper also discusses and analyzes historical elements concerning R. equi previously classified as (Corynebacterium equi). Recent clinical and epidemiological data on the infections caused by R. equi on humans are discussed along with therapeutic schemes for their treatment. Moreover, aspects related to the microbiology, cytochemical, histological as well as the identification of R. equi through molecular technics (PCR) are also shown. Finally, the authors call for an alert on the increasing number of people infected by R. equi, in particular, (HIV) patients and immunodepressed patients who have undergone organ transplants such as kidneys or heart.

Palavras-chave : Rhodococcus; Microbiología; infección; clínica; terapéutica.