[Rhodococcus equi pulmonary abscess in HIV infection].

RE is a well-known Gram positive bacillus which is usually pathogenic in animals. Disease in humans is rare, but incidence has clearly increased with the advent of AIDS. In humans, RE predominantly infect people with impaired cellular immunity so that it is considered an opportunistic agent. Its must common manifestation in immuno-compromised patients is a slowly progressive pneumonia which may cavitate. Even with early diagnostic and optimal and prolonged antibiotic therapy, the mortality of RE, infections remain high (20 to 55%). Problems in clinical and therapic management are illustrated in our two cases of cavitated pneumonia in two AIDS patients.