Infection and Drug Resistance (Dec 2022)
Coinfection with Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae and Aspergillus flavus in a Critically Ill Patient with Aspergillus Overlap Syndrome: A Case Report
Abstract
Yuansheng Xu, Yi Wang, Jinhong Wu, Xue Zhao, Ganying Huang, Jinyan Fang Department of Emergency, Affiliated Hangzhou First People`s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jinyan Fang, Department of Emergency, Affiliated Hangzhou First People`s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 261 Huansha Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310006, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected]: Pulmonary aspergillosis is generally categorized into three groups: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillus overlap syndromes (AOS) defined as the occurrence of more than one form of aspergillus disease in a single individual is not common. We present a 62-year-old-male patient with tachypnea, hypoxemia and shock after 4 weeks of cough, expectoration and intermittent hemoptysis, and 2 days of hyperpyrexia. Cardiac arrest occurring during tracheal intubation was resuscitated successfully. Laboratory examination showed acute kidney failure and severe myelosuppression with leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed the cavity with aspergilloma in the right upper lung lobe, a mass of consolidation in the right lower lung lobe and hyperdense shadow bronchiectasis in the left lower lobe. Bronchoscopy showed lots of sputum occluding the opening of the right airway bronchus. Laboratory examination showed significantly increased C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin concentration, serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan (BDG) and aspergillus immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were also elevated. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing and sputum cultures revealed Klebsiella pneumoniae and Aspergillus flavus infection. Pulmonary aspergillosis, invasive aspergillosis infection and severe pneumonia were diagnosed. Initial caspofungin and meropenem followed by piperacillin-tazobactam sodium and voriconazole were administrated in combination. Continuous renal replacement therapy and mechanical ventilation were also performed. The patient’s condition gradually recovered. Oral antifungal therapy was continued for 1 year after discharge and CT images gradually improved. Coinfections with K. pneumoniae and A. flavus in a patient with AOS will complicate clinical conditions. A search of PubMed showed few reports of similar cases. Clinicians should pay enough attention to the polymicrobial interactions and improve clinical management strategies, especially in critically ill patient with AOS.Keywords: coinfection, Aspergillus overlap syndromes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aspergillus flavus, metagenomic next-generation sequencing
