Cytomegalovirus and COVID-19 co-infection: case report

ABSTRACT

5% of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) by coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19) develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulting in a high mortality rate. A 36-year-old male patient with a history of renal transplant from a related living donor presented with fever of 39oC, asthenia, adynamia, myalgias and arthralgias. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for (COVID-19) was performed, as well as computerized axial tomography (CAT) of the thorax with a finding of CO-RADS 5, he developed greater respiratory insufficiency requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, cultures were obtained with the result of quantitative PCR/DNAc cytomegalovirus (CMV) 554 copies/mL, valganciclovir 900 mg was started, with the patient presenting adequate evolution until mechanical ventilation was withdrawn. Co-infection by CMV and SARS-CoV-2 at pulmonary level should be clinically suspected in the context of pneumonia in the immucompromised patient, favoring the correct and timely treatment that allows complete recovery of the patient.