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COVID-19 after Thoracotomy in Patients with Pulmonary Hydatidosis
Somayeh Lookzadeh1, Kambiz Sheikhy2, Hamidreza Jamaati1
1Chronic Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Two recovered pulmonary hydatidosis patients developed severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after thoracic surgery. This highlights the increased risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients undergoing thoracotomy.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Hydatidosis, caused by *Echinococcus granulosus*, is an endemic zoonotic infection.
- Co-infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been previously documented.
- The liver and lungs are the most commonly affected organs in hydatidosis.
Observation:
- This study reports two cases of pulmonary hydatidosis patients who contracted SARS-CoV-2 post-thoracotomy.
- Patients developed COVID-19 symptoms shortly after surgery, confirmed by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR tests.
Findings:
- Patients with thoracic surgery may be at higher risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Pulmonary hydatidosis co-infected with COVID-19 presents unique clinical challenges.
Implications:
- Consider differential diagnoses in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms post-thoracotomy.
- Emphasize meticulous intraoperative and postoperative care for patients with hydatidosis undergoing thoracic surgery.
- Further research is needed to understand the interaction between hydatidosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection in surgical patients.
Abstract:
Hydatidosis is one of the most important parasitic and zoonotic endemic infections caused by the larvae of cestode Echinococcus granulosus. Co-infection of hydatid cyst with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been previously reported. The mortality rate of hydatidosis is reported to be 2-4% and the liver and lungs are the two most commonly involved organs, respectively. In the present study, we have reported two recovered pulmonary hydatidosis patients who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 after thoracotomy in the hospital. In general, current cases suggest that patients with thoracic surgery are more likely to develop severe infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). The patients presented COVID-19 symptoms shortly after thoracotomy and their viral tests were confirmed with the positive result of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. In conclusion, possible differential diagnoses should be considered in similar cases and adequate attention should be paid to intraoperative and postoperative care.
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