Amoebic liver abscess in a COVID-19 patient: a case report

BMC Infectious Diseases

Natasha A. Camejo-Ávila¹  Fhabián S. Carrión-Nessi²  Viledy L. Velásquez³  Martín Carballo³  David M. Flora-Noda³  Andrea L. Maricuto³  María E. Landaeta³  David A. Forero-Peña⁴  Isaac Rodríguez⁵  Crismar A. Rodríguez-Inés⁶  Óscar O. Noya-González⁷  Rosa Contreras⁷  Jacinto Pineda⁸  Óscar D. Omaña-Ávila⁹  Iván A. Escalante-Pérez⁹  Nicolle A. Kuffaty-Akkou⁹ 

[1] Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela;Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela;“Dr. Francisco Battistini Casalta” Health Sciences School, University of Oriente – Bolivar Nucleus, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela;Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela;Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela;Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela;Radiodiagnosis Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela;Surgery Department, University Hospital of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela;“Dr. Félix Pifano” Tropical Medicine Institute, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela;“Dr. José Antonio O’Daly” Anatomopathological Institute, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela;“Luis Razetti” School of Medicine, Central University of Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela;Biomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela;

关键词: Amoebic liver abscess;    Entamoeba histolytica;    COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    Venezuela;    Case report;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12879-021-06819-9

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAmoebiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, which affects people living in low- and middle-income countries and has intestinal and extraintestinal manifestations. To date, knowledge on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) coinfection with enteric parasites is limited, and E. histolytica coinfection has not been previously described. Here we present the case of a patient with COVID-19 who, during hospitalisation, presented a clinical picture consistent with an amoebic liver abscess (ALA).Case presentationA 54-year-old man, admitted as a suspected case of COVID-19, presented to our hospital with dyspnoea, malaise, fever and hypoxaemia. A nasopharyngeal swab was positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. After 7 days, he developed diarrhoea, choluria and dysentery. An abdominal ultrasound showed a lesion compatible with a liver abscess; stool examination revealed E. histolytica trophozoites, and additional serology for E. histolytica was positive. After 12 days of treatment with metronidazole, ceftazidime and nitazoxanide, the patient reported acute abdominal pain, and an ultrasound examination revealed free liquid in the abdominal cavity. An emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed, finding 3000 mL of a thick fluid described as “anchovy paste”. Computed tomography scan revealed a second abscess. He ended up receiving 21 days of antibiotic treatment and was discharged with satisfactory improvement.ConclusionHere we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of ALA and COVID-19 co-presenting. Based on their pathophysiological similarities, coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and E. histolytica could change the patient’s clinical course; however, larger studies are needed to fully understand the interaction between these pathogens.

【 授权许可】

CC BY