Fatal outcome in a patient under immunosuppressant therapy infected with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 and Strongyloides stercoralis: a case report

Strongyloidiasis is a gastrointestinal parasitic infection caused by percutaneous infection with Strongyloides stercoralis. Digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain are the main manifestation, but serious infections such as septicemia, purulent meningitis, and bacterial pneumonia may o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC infectious diseases 2020-07, Vol.20 (1)
Main Authors: Ashida, Chisato, Kinoshita, Koji, Nozaki, Yuji, Funauchi, Masanori
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Care and treatment
Comorbidity
Development and progression
Diarrhea
Glucocorticoids
Ivermectin
Lupus
Medical research
Meningitis
Mycophenolate mofetil
Parasitic diseases
Patient outcomes
Pneumonia
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Tacrolimus
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Summary:Strongyloidiasis is a gastrointestinal parasitic infection caused by percutaneous infection with Strongyloides stercoralis. Digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain are the main manifestation, but serious infections such as septicemia, purulent meningitis, and bacterial pneumonia may occur in individuals harboring human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) or who are immunocompromised. Although coinfection with Strongyloides stercoralis and HTLV-1 can lead to chronic strongyloidiasis and a disseminated form of the disease, there is a high rate of response to the anthelmintic ivermectin. Both corticosteroid therapy and HTLV-1 infection can be associated with a decrease of eosinophils, despite the presence of parasitic infection. In conclusion, even if multiple culture tests are negative, the risk of parasitic infection should be assessed in patients receiving immunosuppressants and steroids even in non-endemic areas.
ISSN:1471-2334
1471-2334
DOI:10.1186/s12879-020-05195-0