ABSTRACT
Disseminated histoplasmosis is usually associated with immunosuppressive conditions like AIDS. People with respiratory distress syndrome secondary to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are vulnerable to bacterial infections. Additionally, coinfection with fungal pathogens should be considered as a differential diagnosis even in immunocompetent patients who remain on mechanical ventilation secondary to COVID-19. The case presents a 61-year-old immunocompetent man, admitted to the medical ward due to COVID-19 pneumonia. Despite appropriate therapy, the patient required transfer to the intensive care unit for invasive mechanical ventilation. He remained critically ill with worsening respiratory failure. Two weeks later, coinfection by disseminated histoplasmosis was detected. After immediate treatment with amphotericin B and itraconazole, the patient tolerated weaning from mechanical ventilation until extubation. Awareness of this possible fungal coinfection in immunocompetent patients is essential to reduce delays in diagnosis and treatment, and prevent severe illness and death.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Histoplasmosis , Histoplasmosis/complications , Histoplasmosis/diagnosis , Histoplasmosis/drug therapy , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Male , Middle Aged , Respiration, Artificial , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis and COVID-19 infection in a renal transplant recipient in Argentina. The patient exhibited respiratory symptoms, and a chest computed tomography scan (CT) showed multiple bilateral centrilobular opacities with a tree-in-bud pattern in both lobes. The patient was initially treated as having bacterial community-acquired pneumonia, and then tuberculosis. A month later, histoplasmosis was diagnosed, and Histoplasma capsulatum LAmB clade was isolated from sputum, skin and oral lesions. The patient was hospitalized and treatment was started with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B. During the course of the antifungal therapy the respiratory symptoms worsened, a new chest CT showed a unilateral lesion with a ground glass appearance and SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a new nasopharyngeal sample. In addition, plasma therapy was administered, and the immunosuppressive regimen was adjusted (everolimus was interrupted, mycophenolate mofetil reduced, and meprednisone increased). Finally, the patient's progress was favorable and was discharged after five days on oral itraconazole treatment for histoplasmosis.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Histoplasmosis , Kidney Transplantation , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , COVID-19/complications , Everolimus , Histoplasma , Histoplasmosis/complications , Histoplasmosis/drug therapy , Itraconazole/therapeutic use , Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects , Mycophenolic Acid , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Limited information is available concerning the coexistence of COVID-19 and opportunistic infections in people living with HIV. The possible association of COVID-19 with AIDS-related respiratory diseases should be considered, particularly in patients with advance immunosuppression. We report the case of a male patient with AIDS-related disseminated histoplasmosis associated with COVID-19.