A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report
Abstract Background Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster. Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) also causes pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. Although both cause opportunistic infections, it is rare to have a co-infection in a non-human immunodeficiency virus carrier. Case presentation An 84-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Infectious Diseases |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4715-7 |
| _version_ | 1818363619441639424 |
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| author | Hirotada Muramatsu Akira Kuriyama Yoshiaki Anzai Tetsunori Ikegami |
| author_facet | Hirotada Muramatsu Akira Kuriyama Yoshiaki Anzai Tetsunori Ikegami |
| author_sort | Hirotada Muramatsu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster. Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) also causes pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. Although both cause opportunistic infections, it is rare to have a co-infection in a non-human immunodeficiency virus carrier. Case presentation An 84-year-old woman with hemolytic anemia referred because of acute respiratory failure. She had received prednisolone without PJ pneumonia prevention. She developed dyspnea and desaturation while eating, and thus was treated based on a presumptive diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. Physical examination revealed a vesicular rash on the left side of her neck suggesting herpes zoster infection. Polymerase chain reaction of her sputum for PJ and VZV was positive, which confirmed a diagnosis of pneumonia due to PJ and VZV co-infection. Despite acyclovir and sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim administration, she died on hospital day 19. Conclusions Clinicians should suspect PJP when patients on systemic corticosteroids develop pneumonia and they have not received prophylactic treatment for PJP in non-HIV carriers. When such patients have a VZV rash, clinicians should aggressively seek signs of opportunistic infections. Our case hereby highlights the importance of recognizing the possibility of a VZV and PJ co-infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:51:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b30410cb70b43f392174aeb4fa45aef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:51:21Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b30410cb70b43f392174aeb4fa45aef2022-12-21T23:30:16ZengBMCBMC Infectious Diseases1471-23342019-12-011911410.1186/s12879-019-4715-7A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case reportHirotada Muramatsu0Akira Kuriyama1Yoshiaki Anzai2Tetsunori Ikegami3Emergency and Critical Care Center, Kurashiki Central HospitalEmergency and Critical Care Center, Kurashiki Central HospitalDepartment of General Medicine, Kurashiki Central HospitalEmergency and Critical Care Center, Kurashiki Central HospitalAbstract Background Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes herpes zoster. Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) also causes pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. Although both cause opportunistic infections, it is rare to have a co-infection in a non-human immunodeficiency virus carrier. Case presentation An 84-year-old woman with hemolytic anemia referred because of acute respiratory failure. She had received prednisolone without PJ pneumonia prevention. She developed dyspnea and desaturation while eating, and thus was treated based on a presumptive diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. Physical examination revealed a vesicular rash on the left side of her neck suggesting herpes zoster infection. Polymerase chain reaction of her sputum for PJ and VZV was positive, which confirmed a diagnosis of pneumonia due to PJ and VZV co-infection. Despite acyclovir and sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim administration, she died on hospital day 19. Conclusions Clinicians should suspect PJP when patients on systemic corticosteroids develop pneumonia and they have not received prophylactic treatment for PJP in non-HIV carriers. When such patients have a VZV rash, clinicians should aggressively seek signs of opportunistic infections. Our case hereby highlights the importance of recognizing the possibility of a VZV and PJ co-infection.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4715-7CoinfectionImmunocompromised hostsOpportunistic infectionsPneumocystis jiroveciiVaricella-zoster virus |
| spellingShingle | Hirotada Muramatsu Akira Kuriyama Yoshiaki Anzai Tetsunori Ikegami A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report BMC Infectious Diseases Coinfection Immunocompromised hosts Opportunistic infections Pneumocystis jirovecii Varicella-zoster virus |
| title | A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report |
| title_full | A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report |
| title_fullStr | A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report |
| title_short | A co-infection of varicella-zoster virus and Pneumocystis jirovecii in a non-HIV immunocompromised patient: a case report |
| title_sort | co infection of varicella zoster virus and pneumocystis jirovecii in a non hiv immunocompromised patient a case report |
| topic | Coinfection Immunocompromised hosts Opportunistic infections Pneumocystis jirovecii Varicella-zoster virus |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4715-7 |
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