Pulmonary cryptococcosis after recovery from COVID-19 in an immunocompetent patient : A rare case report

Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc..

RATIONALE: Cryptococcus neoformans (C neoformans) infection typically occurs in immunocompromised patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or those taking immunosuppressive drugs, corticosteroids, or chemotherapy. Recently, there have been an increasing number of reports of cryptococcosis as opportunistic infections in COVID-19 patients, all of which have been related to immunocompromising conditions, underlying medical diseases, immune suppression drugs, or corticosteroids. Here, we report the first case of pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent patient with a history of COVID-19 who had no history of underlying diseases or immune modulation drugs.

PATIENT CONCERNS: A previously healthy 46-year-old man presented with tiny lung nodules. He had quit smoking 6 years prior. He had no significant medical history except for COVID-19 3 months prior, and had not received corticosteroids or cytokine blockers when he had COVID-19. He had been coughing since he recovered from COVID-19.

DIAGNOSIS: Bronchoalveolar lavage cultures showed the growth of C neoformans. A CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung lesion was performed. Histopathology of the biopsy specimen showed granulomas with encapsulated yeast. There was no growth of C neoformans in the CSF or blood. He was diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis.

INTERVENTION: Antifungal drug (fluconazole) was administered for 6 months in the outside clinic.

OUTCOMES: The lung lesions disappeared after 6 months medication.

LESSONS: This case may illustrate the risk of pulmonary cryptococcosis after SARS-CoV-2 infection in an immunocompetent patient. Opportunistic infections can occur even after recovery from COVID-19 for several reasons. First, SARS-CoV-2 infection causes immune dysregulation including lymphocytopenia. Second, T lymphocytes play a principal role against Cryptococcus. Third, these changes in the immune system due to COVID-19 may last for several weeks. Thus, we suggest careful consideration of lung lesions in patients with a history of COVID-19.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:101

Enthalten in:

Medicine - 101(2022), 32 vom: 12. Aug., Seite e30143

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Choi, Hye Sook [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Antifungal Agents
Case Reports
Journal Article

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 16.08.2022

Date Revised 03.01.2023

published: Print

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1097/MD.0000000000030143

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM344788245