Abstract

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection represent a risk group for developing spleen abscesses. The paper presents a short review and case illustration, describing the characteristics and underling treatment of HIV-infected patients with infectious comorbidities. There are few reports in literature of multiple spleen abscesses with double, microbial and fungal etiology in HIV-infected patients. A 35 years old male patient was referred to the Infectious Diseases Clinic with prolonged fever. In the last 2 years he had worked as a waiter and had multiple unprotected sexual contacts. The physical examination showed: fever, tongue and pharynx with Candida albicans deposits, enlarged cervical, submandibular, axillar, inguinal lymph nodes and splenomegaly. Biological tests including HIV antibodies (Ab) ELISA, CD4, HIV Western blot test, cultures and paraclinical investigations-abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography were performed. There was a significant inflammatory response, HIV Ab were positive, CD4 cells=17/�L and Western blot HIV test was positive. Abdominal ultrasonography showed: splenomegaly with 3 hypoechogenic round images (13-17mm) at the superior pole, in the hilum and inferior pole. HIV infection stage C3 with oropharyngeal candidiasis and multiple splenic abscesses were diagnosed. After 6 weeks of antibiotic and antifungal therapy total splenectomy was performed. The cultures from splenic abscess contents revealed Acinetobacter baumannii and Cryptococcus neoformans. Under appropriate antibiotic and antifungal treatment, the postoperatory evolution was favorable.

Highlights

  • Spleen abscesses are rare clinical entities, having a frequency between 0.05 and 0.7% [1]

  • Chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with a number of co-infections that are associated with immune activation at various stages, especially after antiretroviral therapy initiation in the form of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) [5]

  • We present the case of a patient diagnosed with HIV infection and multiple splenic abscesses with microbial and fungal etiology, successfully treated

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Summary

Introduction

Spleen abscesses are rare clinical entities, having a frequency between 0.05 and 0.7% [1]. Infectious outbreaks in the body are the main risk factor, splenic abscesses being reported in patients with endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pneumonia, mastoiditis and abdominal infections [2]. Other risk groups are immunocompromised subjects: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients, immunosuppressive therapy, intravenous (i.v.) drug users [3]. Abdominal ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) scan facilitate an early diagnosis of splenic abscess [4]. The literature shows that the specific mortality is up to 47% and, without antibiotic treatment, it may increase to 100% [2]. The current management, which is based on early imagistic diagnosis, antibiotic therapy and surgical treatment, decreases the rate of mortality to less than 10% [4]

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