Ockham’s razor is not so sharp

Abstract

A 39-year-old male with newly diagnosed HIV had cavitary pneumonia initially attributed to Pneumocystis jirovecii but actually caused by Rhodococcus equi. After neurological deterior­ation, he was found to have intracerebral lesions caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This case underscores the inability to rely on the search for a unifying diagnosis (Ockham’s Razor) in HIV-infected patients.

Keywords

• Cavitary pneumonia
• Rhodococcus equi
• Pneumocystis jirovecii
• Toxoplasma gondii