SummaryThree cases of AIDS complicated byRhodococcus equiinfection are reported. At least one of the patients acquired hisRhodococcusinfection in Africa. Despite the fact that theR. equistrains were susceptible to tetracycline, erythromycin, amikacin, co-trimoxazole, rifampicin and vancomycin, these antibiotics were clinically not successful. A clinical improvement was observed in only one patient during teicoplanin and imipenem-cilastatin treatment. Multicentre clinical trials are needed to determine the optimal treatment ofR. equiinfections in AIDS patients.