Three cases of AIDS complicated by Rhodococcus equi infection are reported. At least one of the patients acquired his Rhodococcus infection in Africa. Despite the fact that the R. equi strains 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 of R. equi infections in AIDS patients.