Strongyloides infection manifested during immunosuppressive therapy for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

Background SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has posed formidable public health and clinical challenges. The use of immunosuppressive agents, such as high dose corticosteroids and cytokine inhibitors (e.g., Tocilizumab) has been suggested to contrast the hyperinflammatory process involved in the pathogenesis of the severe disease, with conflicting evidence. Among the drawbacks of immunosuppressive therapy, the risk of reactivation of latent infections, including parasitic infestations, is to be considered. Case presentation We report a case of a 59-year-old Italian patient treated with high dose intravenous dexamethasone and two intravenous doses of Tocilizumab for interstitial bilateral pneumonia associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection who developed itching, abdominal pain, and an increased eosinophil count. Stool examination confirmed the presence of S. stercoralis larvae. The patient was treated with a 4-day course of Ivermectin with full recovery. Discussion We report the first case of S. stercoralis infection following an 11-day treatment with high-dose steroids and Tocilizumab for severe COVID-19. Clinicians should be aware of the risk of strongyloidiasis as a complication of the treatment for severe COVID-19..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:49

Enthalten in:

Infection - 49(2020), 3 vom: 10. Sept., Seite 539-542

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Marchese, Valentina [VerfasserIn]
Crosato, Verena [VerfasserIn]
Gulletta, Maurizio [VerfasserIn]
Castelnuovo, Filippo [VerfasserIn]
Cristini, Graziella [VerfasserIn]
Matteelli, Alberto [VerfasserIn]
Castelli, Francesco [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext [kostenfrei]

BKL:

44.75

Themen:

Immunosuppression
SARS-CoV-2
Tocilizumab

Anmerkungen:

© The Author(s) 2020

doi:

10.1007/s15010-020-01522-4

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

SPR044162774