THE SUBSEQUENT IMPACT OF COVID-19 FOR BOTH IMMUNE DYSREGULATION AND OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Post-COVID-19 Infection Complications SESSION TYPE Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON 10/17/2022 1215 pm - 0115 pm INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic remains a burden to healthcare worldwide. Current literature suggests a possible link between COVID-19 survivors and opportunistic infections. We present a case of an immunocompetent male who presented with pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in the setting of a recent COVID-19 infection. CASE PRESENTATION A 65-year-old man with 65 pack-year smoking history, COPD, and recent COVID-19 pneumonia requiring hospitalization 1 month prior, presented with 2 days of dyspnea. His physical exam was notable for hypoxia requiring supplemental oxygen and bibasilar crackles. WBC was elevated at 15,500. ABG was significant for hypoxemia. A CT chest demonstrated bilateral peripheral mixed ground glass and consolidative opacities (Figure 1). Upon admission, the patient received ceftriaxone and azithromycin for presumed community acquired pneumonia. However, the patient continued to clinically decompensate with increasing oxygen requirements. As such, a repeat CT was ordered which demonstrated bilateral ground glass opacities, interstitial scarring, and subpleural honeycombing (Figure 2). A bronchoscopy was also performed;bronchoalveolar lavage was positive for PJP by PCR but with negative DFA. The patient was started on trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and prednisone. After 3 weeks, the patient clinically improved and was discharged to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation. Subsequent CT scan 1 month after initial presentation demonstrated fibrotic changes and bronchial wall thickening (Figure 3). DISCUSSION: In our case, the patient was an immunocompetent male with underlying COPD and recent COVID-19 pneumonia, found to have PJP by PCR. The PCR test for PJP has a higher sensitivity compared to DFA (1), so our patient's incongruent positive PCR and negative DFA test results may represent true PJP or an organizing pneumonia with colonization. A lung biopsy with histology ultimately could have confirmed the diagnosis but was not performed in this case given the patient's clinical improvement with steroids and TMP/SMX (2). Previous studies have demonstrated that COVID-19 can cause immune dysregulation via decreased T cell count and thus can increase the risk for opportunistic infections (3). Furthermore, multiple case reports have shown concurrent COVID-19 and PJP in immunocompetent patients (1). Based on his findings, we believe that our patient was at increased risk for and subsequently developed PJP as a direct consequence of his recent COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 has been identified as a predisposing factor for subsequent chronic conditions. Studies have demonstrated the capability of COVID-19 infection to weaken the immune system for opportunistic infections as well as remodel the pulmonary architecture. Both conditions can confer high morbidity and mortality for COVID-19 survivors. As such, a close surveillance of this population is warranted. Reference #1 Chong WH, Saha BK, Chopra A. Narrative review of the relationship between COVID-19 and PJP does it represent coinfection or colonization? Infection (2021) 491079–1090. doi10.1007/s15010-021-01630-9 Reference #2 Culebras M, Loor K, Sansano I, Persiva Ó, Clofent D, Polverino E, Felipe A, Osorio J, Muñoz X, Álvarez A, et al. Histological Findings in Transbronchial Cryobiopsies Obtained From Patients After COVID-19. Chest (2022) 161647–650. doi10.1016/j.chest.2021.09.016 Reference #3 Qin C, Zhou L, Hu Z, Zhang S, Yang S, Tao Y, Xie C, Ma K, Shang K, Wang W, et al. Dysregulation of immune response in patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China. Clin Infect Dis (2020) 71762–768. doi10.1093/cid/ciaa248 DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Duc Do No relevant relationships by Clara Suh