PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Abdulaziz U. Joury
AU  - Mona Alshehri
AU  - Mustafa Alhasan
TI  - Concurrent Persistent Cryptococcosis and <em>Mycobacterium avium</em> Complex Infections in a Patient With Human Immunodeficiency Virus
AID  - 10.31486/toj.17.0113
DP  - 2018 Nov 09
TA  - Ochsner Journal
PG  - toj.18.0113
4099  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/early/2018/11/09/toj.17.0113.short
4100  - http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/early/2018/11/09/toj.17.0113.full
AB  - Background: Fungal infections are known for their chronicity and latency and are difficult to eradicate. The pathophysiology of these invading pathogens and the resulting alteration of the immune system are not fully understood. Fungal meningitis is associated with significant rates of morbidity and mortality, especially among immunocompromised patients. Cryptococcosis, an infection secondary to the fungus Cryptococcus, is one of the most important opportunistic infections among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and expediting treatment is crucial.Case Report: We report the case of a 28-year-old male with HIV who had a simultaneous co-infection with cryptococcal meningitis and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). The patient required a 2-week induction phase of antifungal medication with amphotericin B and flucytosine. Despite aggressive initial therapy and the patient’s significant clinical improvement, his radiologic findings and lumbar puncture showed persistent cryptococcal infection.Conclusion: Concurrent infection with cryptococcosis and MAC is extremely rare even in immunosuppressed patients. In our case, the concurrent infection was associated with a prolonged course of therapy during the induction phase for cryptococcosis.