Coinfection of disseminated cryptococcosis and BK Virus, a casualty of missed diagnosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A case report and review of the literature

  • Jessica Louise Benelli Laboratory of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
  • Rossana Patrícia Basso Postgraduate Student of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
  • Márcia de Lima Rodrigues Specialized Care Service in Infectious Diseases, Dr. Miguel Riet Correa University Hospital, Rio Grande, Brazil
  • Vanice Rodrigues Poester Laboratory of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
  • Lívia Silveira Munhoz Postgraduate Student of Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
  • Valerio Rodrigues Aquino Laboratory Diagnostic Service, Microbiology Unit, Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
  • David A. Stevens California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, and Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
  • Melissa Orzechowski Xavier Laboratory of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brazil
Keywords: BK Virus Fungal meningitis HIV-AIDS Opportunistic diseases Pandemic

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an overload of health services and healthcare professionals. The result is a setback in health promotion and prevention, delays in diagnosis, and deaths from other diseases that are currently receiving inadequate attention. This article illustrates the risk of this negligence.

Case report: This study aimed to report a case of coinfection of disseminated cryptococcosis and BK virus in a patient without a previous diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection and COVID-19 negative in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite receiving antifungal therapy, the patient died.

Conclusion: This fatal case is a warning regarding delay of diagnosis and neglect ofother serious illnesses owing to the current pandemic, including fungal diseases and neglected diagnoses.
 

Published
2021-11-23
Section
Articles