loading page

Pulmonary cryptococcal infection after COVID-19 recovery:A case report and literature review
  • +2
  • Yusheng Yan,
  • Ximing Liao,
  • Haiyan Hu,
  • Lv Yuan,
  • Yuling Tang
Yusheng Yan
First Hospital of Changsha
Author Profile
Ximing Liao
Shanghai East Hospital
Author Profile
Haiyan Hu
The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University
Author Profile
Lv Yuan
First Hospital of Changsha
Author Profile
Yuling Tang
First Hospital of Changsha

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first reported in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019, and quickly developed into a global pandemic. By reviewing the clinical data of 1 patient with cryptococcus pneumoniae infection after recovered from COVID-19 and reviewing relevant literature, the following possible clinical consequences of COVID-19 were discussed and corresponding relevant management strategies were proposed. Case presentation: A 64-year-old female patient diagnosed with COVID-19 was cured and discharged. Follow-up laboratory tests showed that CD4+ cell count reduced and abnormal CD4+/CD8+ cell ratio, and a growing solid lesion was found on computed tomography (CT) scan after two mouths after discharge. Ineffective broad-spectrum antibiotics treatment and positive cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen tests results indicating the suspicious invasive pulmonary fungal infection due to immunodeficiency. After anti-fungal treatment, the right lung lesion were significantly absorbed. Conclusion: After recovery from COVID-19, T cell count decline may occur, accompanied by host immune dysfunction. Clinicians should pay more attention to secondary infections caused by weakened immunity of COVID-19 patients after recovery, whom might be vigilant against opportunistic pathogens such as Cryptococcus. Key words: COVID-19, invasive fungal infection, Cryptococcus, lymphopenia.