Unsuspected Toxoplasma gondii empyema in a bone marrow transplant recipient.
Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite that can cause severe disease in immunosuppressed individuals. We report a case of unsuspected T. gondii empyema in a bone marrow transplant recipient that was diagnosed by the visualization of numerous intracellular and extracellular tachyzoites in Giemsa- and Gram-stained smears. The patient was treated with pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, clindamycin, and atovaquone, and she survived 110 days after diagnosis, despite having a large parasite burden.
Dawis
Maria Agnes
MA
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, 10029, USA. agnesdawis@pol.net
Bottone
Edward J
EJ
Vlachos
Adrianna
A
Burroughs
Margaret H
MH
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D004653:Empyema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000469:parasitology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology*