CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report

Abstract Background Tuberculosis is a highly prevalent disease in India, while Histoplasmosis, an emerging disease, is often underreported due to limited resources in developing countries. Coinfection with both these organisms is rarely documented in immunocompetent host. Due to overlapping symptoms...

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Main Authors: Bhuvanesh Kumar, Dipasha Agarwal, Durga Shankar Meena, Shruti Vaswani, Dangeti Sowmya Sri, Deepak Kumar, Abhishek Purohit, Pawan Garg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10068-x
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author Bhuvanesh Kumar
Dipasha Agarwal
Durga Shankar Meena
Shruti Vaswani
Dangeti Sowmya Sri
Deepak Kumar
Abhishek Purohit
Pawan Garg
author_facet Bhuvanesh Kumar
Dipasha Agarwal
Durga Shankar Meena
Shruti Vaswani
Dangeti Sowmya Sri
Deepak Kumar
Abhishek Purohit
Pawan Garg
author_sort Bhuvanesh Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Tuberculosis is a highly prevalent disease in India, while Histoplasmosis, an emerging disease, is often underreported due to limited resources in developing countries. Coinfection with both these organisms is rarely documented in immunocompetent host. Due to overlapping symptoms, it can be easily missed and treatment delays are not uncommon. Case Presentation Here, we report a case of a 62-year-old male with a chronic history of intermittent fever and dry cough, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and persistent pancytopenia. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis with cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) positivity from a paratracheal lymph node biopsy. Simultaneously, a bone marrow biopsy revealed Histoplasmosis and the patient was started on dual treatment (Itraconazole and antitubercular drugs). After an initial response, the patient developed new space-occupying cerebral lesions. CSF histoplasma antigen was also positive. The reason for treatment failure was likely to be drug interaction (suboptimal levels of itraconazole due to rifampicin). The patient received liposomal amphotericin and subsequently put on a modified antitubercular treatment regimen to avoid interaction with itraconazole. At 2-month follow-up, the patient’s condition significantly improved with a substantial resolution in CNS lesions. Conclusions Histoplasmosis and tuberculosis have overlapping symptoms, diagnosing one does not preclude the possibility of other, even in non-HIV patients. Clinicians should also be vigilant about potential drug interactions.
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spelling doaj-art-1a06fc832e7941a2a57041a39f12b7ce2024-11-17T12:12:10ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342024-11-012411610.1186/s12879-024-10068-xCNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case reportBhuvanesh Kumar0Dipasha Agarwal1Durga Shankar Meena2Shruti Vaswani3Dangeti Sowmya Sri4Deepak Kumar5Abhishek Purohit6Pawan Garg7Infectious Diseases Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical SciencesInfectious Diseases Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical SciencesInfectious Diseases Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pathology and Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical SciencesInfectious Diseases Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, All India Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Pathology and Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical SciencesDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Tuberculosis is a highly prevalent disease in India, while Histoplasmosis, an emerging disease, is often underreported due to limited resources in developing countries. Coinfection with both these organisms is rarely documented in immunocompetent host. Due to overlapping symptoms, it can be easily missed and treatment delays are not uncommon. Case Presentation Here, we report a case of a 62-year-old male with a chronic history of intermittent fever and dry cough, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and persistent pancytopenia. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis with cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) positivity from a paratracheal lymph node biopsy. Simultaneously, a bone marrow biopsy revealed Histoplasmosis and the patient was started on dual treatment (Itraconazole and antitubercular drugs). After an initial response, the patient developed new space-occupying cerebral lesions. CSF histoplasma antigen was also positive. The reason for treatment failure was likely to be drug interaction (suboptimal levels of itraconazole due to rifampicin). The patient received liposomal amphotericin and subsequently put on a modified antitubercular treatment regimen to avoid interaction with itraconazole. At 2-month follow-up, the patient’s condition significantly improved with a substantial resolution in CNS lesions. Conclusions Histoplasmosis and tuberculosis have overlapping symptoms, diagnosing one does not preclude the possibility of other, even in non-HIV patients. Clinicians should also be vigilant about potential drug interactions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10068-xTuberculosisCNS histoplasmosisCoinfectionImmunocompetentBrain abscess
spellingShingle Bhuvanesh Kumar
Dipasha Agarwal
Durga Shankar Meena
Shruti Vaswani
Dangeti Sowmya Sri
Deepak Kumar
Abhishek Purohit
Pawan Garg
CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report
BMC Infectious Diseases
Tuberculosis
CNS histoplasmosis
Coinfection
Immunocompetent
Brain abscess
title CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report
title_full CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report
title_fullStr CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report
title_full_unstemmed CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report
title_short CNS histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a HIV negative patient: case report
title_sort cns histoplasmosis coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in a hiv negative patient case report
topic Tuberculosis
CNS histoplasmosis
Coinfection
Immunocompetent
Brain abscess
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-10068-x
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