Cytologic appearance of Rhodococcus equi in bronchoalveolar lavage specimens. A case report.

Immunocompromised patients are at risk of developing infections caused by Rhodococcus equi, a gram-positive bacillus that can cause pneumonia in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. To the author's knowledge this is the first report describing the cytologic features of the infection in a patient who had a confirmatory tissue biopsy and positive culture. Infection with R equi may go unrecognized by pathologists unaware of its presentation and appearance in cytologic material.