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Multiple opportunistic fungal infections in an individual with severe HIV disease: A case report

Fernando Almeida-Silva1, Lisandra Serra Damasceno1, Maria Jose Buitrago Serna2

  • 1Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Revista Iberoamericana De Micologia
|February 22, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Advanced HIV/AIDS patients are vulnerable to multiple fungal infections like cryptococcosis, pneumocystosis, and histoplasmosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing these opportunistic mycoses.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunocompromised Hosts

Background:

  • Fungal infections are common in advanced HIV disease.
  • Cryptococcosis, pneumocystosis, and histoplasmosis are frequent systemic mycoses in HIV/AIDS patients.

Observation:

  • A case of multiple fungal infections in an advanced AIDS patient from Brazil.
  • The patient presented with severe symptoms including diarrhea, dyspnea, and a CD4+ T lymphocyte count of 20 cells/mm³.
  • Diagnoses included Pneumocystis jirovecii, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum.

Findings:

  • Direct immunofluorescence, cultures, histopathology, and molecular assays (PCR) confirmed the presence of three distinct fungal pathogens.
  • Molecular assays confirmed P. jirovecii, H. capsulatum, and C. neoformans.
  • The patient showed satisfactory progress with antifungal drug treatment.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the vulnerability of advanced AIDS patients to multiple opportunistic fungal infections.
  • Early detection of AIDS cases is essential for timely Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) initiation.
  • Prophylaxis against opportunistic infections is critical for managing patients with advanced HIV/AIDS.
Keywords:
AIDSCriptococosisCryptococcosisHistoplasmosisImmune response inflammatory syndromeNeumocistosisPneumocystosisSidaSíndrome inflamatorio de reconstitución inmune

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