TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION MIGHT INCREASE THE RISK OF INVASIVE CANDIDIASIS IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT PATIENT

Abstract

Deep Candida infections commonly occur in immunosuppressed patients. A rare case of a multiple deep organ infection with Candida albicans and spinal tuberculosis was reported in a healthy young man. The 19-year-old man complained of month-long fever and lower back pain. He also had a history of scalded mouth syndrome. Coinfection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Candida albicans was diagnosed using the culture of aspirates from different regions. Symptoms improved considerably after antifungal and antituberculous therapy. This case illustrates that infection with tuberculosis might impair the host's immune system and increase the risk of invasive candidiasis in an immunocompetent patient.

Fig. 1. A. Whole-Body positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) showing increased uptake of [¹⁸F]FDG appear in right neck, liver, right psoas major area respectively (arrows). B. The brown fluids were drained from the liver under B-mode ultrasonography inducted. C. Microphotography of Candida albicans Gram staining 1000×.

Fig. 2. A. MRI showing altered signal intensity in T11, T12, L1 and unique osteolytic lesions in the above vertebral bodies (arrow). B, C. Histopathologic examination of aspirates showing caseous material and acid fast bacilli (arrow), respectively.