Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a patient with Tuberculosis/AIDS coinfection. Case report (Original)

Abstract

Pneumocystis jirovecii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis are common pulmonary pathogens in HIV-infected patients, with their relative frequencies depending on geographic location. Concurrent opportunistic infections in these severely immunosuppressed hosts, involving one or more organ systems, are well described, but dual pulmonary infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis has only rarely been reported. Both tuberculosis and Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia may be the initial manifestation of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The article describes the clinical-radiological manifestations of an immunocompromised patient (HIV positive) with two opportunistic infections at the same time; for this purpose, an observational descriptive work is presented, in which an atypical case of a 32 year old, black male patient is characterized, who was admitted to the hospital with respiratory symptoms and in whom a Tuberculosis/ AIDS coinfection is confirmed. In conclusion, it is evident that, given the seriousness of such a case, clinical expertise and the validity of initiating empirical treatment are important to achieve satisfactory results as in the case described, where the diagnosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia was considered in a young patient with tuberculosis / AIDS.