CO-INFECTION WITH HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM AND PNEUMOCYSTIS JIROVECII IN A PATIENT WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS: A DIAGNOSTIC DILEMMA

Abstract

SESSION TITLE: Medical Student/Resident Chest Infections Posters SESSION TYPE: Med Student/Res Case Rep Postr PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 INTRODUCTION: Histoplasma capsulatum and Pneumocystis jirovecii pulmonary coinfection are unusual in HIV negative populations. We present the case of a man in respiratory failure with H. capsulatum and P. jirovecii detected in bronchial washings. CASE PRESENTATION: A 64-year-old man with T2DM, moderate COPD, and NASH cirrhosis with pancytopenia presented with 2-month history of progressive hypoxic respiratory failure. CT chest revealed multifocal consolidations with mediastinal lymphadenopathy which progressed despite antimicrobial therapy (Fig. 1). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was remarkable for 2800 copies/mL of P. jirovecii PCR with beta-D-glucan of 286. BAL specimen also grew H. capsulatum on culture and the FNAC specimen taken from lymph node 7 during the transbronchial biopsy was indicative of fungal elements similar to Histoplasma (Fig. 2A-2C). The patient was started on itraconazole for Histoplasmosis and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with steroids for P. jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). He was tested during the hospitalization and found to be negative for HIV but had CD4 and CD8 counts at 86 and 70 x10E9/L respectively. Due to progression of his disease the patient was transitioned to comfort measures and passed on hospital day 36. DISCUSSION: Histoplasmosis is an endemic mycosis in the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys often resulting in asymptomatic infection [1]. PJP has also been reported as an asymptomatic infection or colonization in immunocompetent hosts [2]. Co-infection with both H. capsulatum and PJP ranges from 0.5-13% in studies on HIV positive patient groups [3,4]. In the sample population studied by Carreto-Binaghi et al, a coinfection rate of 1.5% was noted in the HIV negative group [5]. Irrespective of host immune status, patients with coinfection have a higher mortality rate than with a single infection alone [5], thus warranting treatment for both pathogens. Our patient had a history of chronic lymphopenia which had been attributed to his cirrhosis, with tests showing extremely low CD4 counts. Patients with end stage liver disease are recognized as being relatively immunocompromised when compared to healthy individuals due to coexisting leucopenia, lymphopenia and CD4/CD8 ratio abnormalities [6]. This case raises the question if patients with cirrhosis and lymphopenia should be treated with prophylactic antimicrobial agents based on their CD4 counts. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights the importance of recognizing and treating co-infection of PJP and Histoplasmosis in non-HIV infected individuals. Additionally, it reminds us that patients with liver disease have important deficiencies in their cellular and humoral immunity which make them more susceptible to unusual opportunistic infections. Reference #1: [1] Goodwin RA, Loyd JE, Des Prez RM. Histoplasmosis in Normal Hosts. Medicine. 1981; 60(4): 231-266. Reference #2: [2] Ponce CA, Gallo M, Bustamante R, et al. Pneumocystis colonization is highly prevalent in the autopsied lungs of the general population. Clin Infect Dis. 2010; 50(3):347-353. [3] Baughman RP, Dohn MN, Frame PT. The continuing utility of bronchoalveolar lavage to diagnose opportunistic infection in AIDS patients. Am J Med. 1994; 97(6): 515-522. Reference #3: [4] Wheat JL, Slama TG, Zeckel ML. Histoplasmosis in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Am J Med. 1985; 78(2): 203-210. [5] Carreto-Binaghi LE, Morales-Villarreal FR, García-de la Torre G, et al. Histoplasma capsulatum and Pneumocystis jirovecii coinfection in hospitalized HIV and non-HIV patients from a tertiary care hospital in Mexico. Int J of Inf Dis. 2019; 86: 65-72. [6] Tuchendler E, Tuchendler PK, Madej G. Immunodeficiency caused by cirrhosis. Clin Exp Hepatol. 2018;4(3):158-164. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by James Dugan, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Akisha Glasgow, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Eduarda Grinsztejn, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Amrita John, source=Web Response