Multiple opportunistic fungal infections in an individual with severe HIV disease: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Fungal infections have been commonly diagnosed in individuals with advanced HIV disease. Cryptococcosis, pneumocystosis, and histoplasmosis are the most frequent systemic mycoses in people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of multiple fungal infections in an advanced AIDS-patient. A 33-year-old HIV-positive man from Brazil was hospitalized due to diarrhea, dyspnea, emaciation, hypoxemia, extensive oral thrush, and a CD4+ T lymphocyte count of 20cells/mm(3). Honeycombed-structures consistent with Pneumocystis jirovecii were observed by direct immunofluorescence in induced sputum. Cryptococcus neoformans was recovered from respiratory secretion and cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Histopathology of the bone marrow also revealed the presence of Histoplasma capsulatum. Molecular assays were performed in a sputum sample. Nested-PCR confirmed the presence of P. jirovecii and H. capsulatum; qPCR multiplex was positive for C. neoformans and H. capsulatum. With the treatment of antifungal drugs the patient progressed satisfactorily.

CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of several systemic mycoses demonstrates the vulnerability of advanced AIDS-patients. Thus, the detection of AIDS cases in the early stages of infection is necessary for a prompt and adequate introduction of HAART therapy, and the use of prophylaxis to control opportunistic infections.