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Respiratory hyperinfection with Strongyloides stercoralis in a patient with renal failure

Rajapurkar M, Hegde U, Rokhade M, Gang S, Gohel K

Nature clinical practice. Nephrology, 2007

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A 40-year-old female presented to hospital with rapidly progressive renal failure secondary to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive crescentic glomerulonephritis. She was started on immunosuppressive therapy (oral steroids and oral cyclophosphamide) and hemodialysis. She re-presented with persistent fever, persistent vomiting and dry cough 135 days after starting immunosuppression. A chest X-ray revealed left lower zone consolidation. Repeated sputum Gram stains were negative, and both sputum and blood cultures were sterile. A sputum smear was negative for acid-fast bacilli. The patient's fever did not respond to empirical antibiotics or antitubercular therapy. Bronchoscopic alveolar lavage and stool examination revealed larval forms of Strongyloides stercoralis.

INVESTIGATIONS: Physical examination, urine and blood analyses, chest X-ray, bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage examination.

DIAGNOSIS: Respiratory hyperinfection syndrome due to S. stercoralis.

MANAGEMENT: Ivermectin, albendazole and empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics for bacterial superinfection (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid for 5 days followed by piperacillin and tazobactam plus levofloxacin).

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