A case of pleural tuberculosis vs latent tuberculosis reactivation as a result of COVID-19 infection and treatment

Authors

Wesley Tang, Department of Medicine, Kettering Medical Center, Kettering, OH, USAFollow
Lex Leonhardt, Department of Medicine, Kettering Medical Center, Kettering, OH, USA
Aamir Pervez, Department of Medicine, Kettering Medical Center, Kettering, OH, USA
Satish Sarvepalli, Division of Infectious Disease, South Dayton Acute Care Consultants, Dayton, OH, USA

Abstract

The reactivation of latent tuberculosis occurs when a patient living with Mycobacterium tuberculosis enters a state where the immune system is suppressed. Since early 2021, the standard of care has been to provide corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 infection in hospitalized patients receiving supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The immunomodulatory effects of corticosteroids are potentially detrimental for patients with latent vs active tuberculosis, with concomitant SARS-CoV2 infection. We present one of the first few cases in the literature detailing a case of reactivation of latent tuberculosis vs. pleural tuberculosis as a consequence of COVID-19, and who underwent subsequent corticosteroid treatment.

Recommended Citation

Tang, Wesley; Leonhardt, Lex; Pervez, Aamir; and Sarvepalli, Satish (2022) "A case of pleural tuberculosis vs latent tuberculosis reactivation as a result of COVID-19 infection and treatment," Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives: Vol. 12: Iss. 4, Article 17.
DOI: 10.55729/2000-9666.1078
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.gbmc.org/jchimp/vol12/iss4/17