COVID19 and tuberculosis Co-infection: clinical, biological and radiological characteristics

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Covid-19 and tuberculosis (TB) coinfection are rarely described. The aim of our work was to study clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of COVID-19 and TB coinfection. <b>Methods:</b> It was a retrospective study of patients with confirmed COVID-19 and TB coinfection who were admitted our department between January 2021 and February 2022. <b>Results:</b> During study period, 788 were hospitalized for COVID-19. A total of seven patients had COVID-19 and TB coinfection. All patients were moderate to severe clinical form of COVID-19. The median age was 38 years [16-86]. There was a male preponderance 71.4% (sex-ratio = 2.5). All patients were vaccinated against TB. TB was pleural in two cases and pulmonary in five cases. The most common clinical signs found in our population were: cough and fever in five patients. The biological assessment objectified biological inflammatory syndrome in 71.4%, lymphopenia in 71.4% and elevation of D-dimer in 42.9%. All patients had a chest CT that showed condensation in 42.9%, cavities in 42.9% and ground glass opacities in 71.4%. The mean extent of CT lesions was 33.5%. The median length of hospitalization was six days. <b>Conclusion:</b> There is a little data of COVID19-TB coinfection. All patients were vaccinated against tuberculosis and had mild to moderate clinical form.