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Blastocystis sp. Infection Mimicking Clostridium Difficile Colitis
Gaby S Gil1, Shobhana Chaudhari1, Ahmed Shady1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York Medical College, 1901 First Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
|June 2, 2016
Summary
Blastocystis sp. infection caused severe diarrhea in an end-stage renal disease patient undergoing hemodialysis. Metronidazole treatment led to symptom resolution, highlighting a potential treatment for this rare complication.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis are immunocompromised.
- Gastrointestinal infections can present atypically in ESRD patients.
- Blastocystis sp. is a common intestinal parasite, but severe manifestations in ESRD are rare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of severe diarrhea caused by Blastocystis sp. infection in a hemodialysis patient.
- To discuss the diagnostic challenges and treatment of Blastocystis sp. in this specific patient population.
Main Methods:
- Case report of a patient with ESRD on hemodialysis presenting with severe diarrhea.
- Comprehensive stool work-up including ova and parasite examination.
- Treatment with intravenous metronidazole.
Main Results:
- Initial stool work-up for common pathogens was negative.
- Ova and parasite examination confirmed Blastocystis sp. infection.
- Intravenous metronidazole resulted in clinical improvement within three days and full recovery by ten days.
Conclusions:
- Blastocystis sp. can cause severe diarrhea in immunocompromised patients, including those with ESRD on hemodialysis.
- Prompt diagnosis via ova and parasite examination is crucial.
- Metronidazole is an effective treatment for Blastocystis sp. infection in this patient group.
