SESSION TITLE: Pulmonary Involvement in Critical Care Case PostersSESSION TYPE: Case Report PostersPRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 01:15 pmINTRODUCTION: Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA) is a well-documented condition in critically ill patients, but rarely reported as co-existence with Ehrlichiosis. Our patient presented with Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and subsequently developed tracheobronchial aspergillosis. Patient had no predisposing immunosuppressing conditions or risk factors except for IV drug abuse history.CASE PRESENTATION: 48-year-old female with prior history of CHFpEF and polysubstance abuse presented with fever, abdominal pain, nonproductive cough, photophobia, generalized weakness and found to be hypotensive on arrival to hospital. Pertinent laboratory values suggestive of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, renal azotemia, and transaminitis. Patient was negative for HIV, viral hepatitis, or other immune compromising infections upon initial testing. CT of the chest demonstrated small ground-glass density in the left upper lobe and nonspecific mediastinal/hilar adenopathy. Due to her clinical presentation, patient underwent broad laboratory testing and was positive for E. chaffeensis. However patient continued to deteriorate despite treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. Diagnostic bronchoscopy performed which demonstrated yellow colored vesicular lesions located diffusely throughout the tracheobronchial trees. Endobronchial biopsy revealed extensive fungal elements in form of fungal balls and fragments, exhibiting septate hyphae with 45-degree branching, consistent with Aspergillosis. Aspergillus galactomannan assay tested positive. In spite of initiating antifungals patient continued to decline and could not survive.DISCUSSION: Ehrlichia utilizes many immune evasion mechanisms, including suppressing apoptosis of host cells, modulation of chemokine and cytokine responses, and down-regulation of host pattern recognition receptors that might enable clearance of the infection, leading to immunocompromised condition. Secondary infections, including those caused by cytomegalovirus, Candida, and Aspergillus spp., have occurred in some severely ill patients. IPA can be challenging to diagnose early due to non-specific presentation. Several studies have demonstrated invasive aspergillosis prevalence in critically ill patients between 0.33-6.9%. Although the incidence rate is low, timely initiation of empiric antifungal therapy is crucial prior to culture results due to high mortality risk of >80%. Ideally tissue biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis however if it is not feasible, fungal serum labs may be used in conjunction with bronchoalveolar lavage culture. In suspected patients early bronchoscopy can help to confirm aspergillosis diagnosis early and start antifungals.CONCLUSIONS: It is unclear if Ehrlichiosis induced immunosuppression lead to IPA. While not often reported together these infections can cause severe morbidity and mortality. We recommend diagnostic bronchoscopy to diagnose this condition early.Reference #1: Dumler, J. S., W. L. Sutker, and D. H. Walker. 1993. Persistent infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Clin. Infect. Dis. 17:903-905.Reference #2: Wouter Meersseman, Katrien Lagrou, Johan Maertens, Eric Van Wijngaerden, Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 45, Issue 2, 15 July 2007, Pages 205–216, https://doi.org/10.1086/518852Reference #3: Moreno-González G, Ricart de Mesones A, Tazi-Mezalek R, Marron-Moya MT, Rosell A, Mañez R. Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis with Disseminated Infection in Immunocompetent Patient. Can Respir J. 2016;2016:7984032. doi: 10.1155/2016/7984032. Epub 2016 May 5. PMID: 27445566; PMCID: PMC4904540.DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Rajinish JesudossNo relevant relationships by Evan PriceNo relevant relationships by Rakesh Vadde SESSION TITLE: Pulmonary Involvement in Critical Care Case Posters SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/17/2022 12:15 pm - 01:15 pm INTRODUCTION: Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA) is a well-documented condition in critically ill patients, but rarely reported as co-existence with Ehrlichiosis. Our patient presented with Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis and subsequently developed tracheobronchial aspergillosis. Patient had no predisposing immunosuppressing conditions or risk factors except for IV drug abuse history. CASE PRESENTATION: 48-year-old female with prior history of CHFpEF and polysubstance abuse presented with fever, abdominal pain, nonproductive cough, photophobia, generalized weakness and found to be hypotensive on arrival to hospital. Pertinent laboratory values suggestive of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, renal azotemia, and transaminitis. Patient was negative for HIV, viral hepatitis, or other immune compromising infections upon initial testing. CT of the chest demonstrated small ground-glass density in the left upper lobe and nonspecific mediastinal/hilar adenopathy. Due to her clinical presentation, patient underwent broad laboratory testing and was positive for E. chaffeensis. However patient continued to deteriorate despite treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics. Diagnostic bronchoscopy performed which demonstrated yellow colored vesicular lesions located diffusely throughout the tracheobronchial trees. Endobronchial biopsy revealed extensive fungal elements in form of fungal balls and fragments, exhibiting septate hyphae with 45-degree branching, consistent with Aspergillosis. Aspergillus galactomannan assay tested positive. In spite of initiating antifungals patient continued to decline and could not survive. DISCUSSION: Ehrlichia utilizes many immune evasion mechanisms, including suppressing apoptosis of host cells, modulation of chemokine and cytokine responses, and down-regulation of host pattern recognition receptors that might enable clearance of the infection, leading to immunocompromised condition. Secondary infections, including those caused by cytomegalovirus, Candida, and Aspergillus spp., have occurred in some severely ill patients. IPA can be challenging to diagnose early due to non-specific presentation. Several studies have demonstrated invasive aspergillosis prevalence in critically ill patients between 0.33-6.9%. Although the incidence rate is low, timely initiation of empiric antifungal therapy is crucial prior to culture results due to high mortality risk of >80%. Ideally tissue biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis however if it is not feasible, fungal serum labs may be used in conjunction with bronchoalveolar lavage culture. In suspected patients early bronchoscopy can help to confirm aspergillosis diagnosis early and start antifungals. CONCLUSIONS: It is unclear if Ehrlichiosis induced immunosuppression lead to IPA. While not often reported together these infections can cause severe morbidity and mortality. We recommend diagnostic bronchoscopy to diagnose this condition early. Reference #1: Dumler, J. S., W. L. Sutker, and D. H. Walker. 1993. Persistent infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Clin. Infect. Dis. 17:903-905. Reference #2: Wouter Meersseman, Katrien Lagrou, Johan Maertens, Eric Van Wijngaerden, Invasive Aspergillosis in the Intensive Care Unit, Clinical Infectious Diseases, Volume 45, Issue 2, 15 July 2007, Pages 205–216, https://doi.org/10.1086/518852 Reference #3: Moreno-González G, Ricart de Mesones A, Tazi-Mezalek R, Marron-Moya MT, Rosell A, Mañez R. Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis with Disseminated Infection in Immunocompetent Patient. Can Respir J. 2016;2016:7984032. doi: 10.1155/2016/7984032. Epub 2016 May 5. PMID: 27445566; PMCID: PMC4904540. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Rajinish Jesudoss No relevant relationships by Evan Price No relevant relationships by Rakesh Vadde