Coinfection of Pneumocystis jirovecii and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in an immunocompromised patient: a diagnostic challenge.

BACKGROUND: Invasive infections caused by Aspergillus fumigatus as well as Pneumocystis pneumonia are serious and often lethal diseases in severely immunocompromised patients.

CASE REPORT: We report on a rare case of a pulmonary coinfection of Pneumocystis jirovecii and Aspergillus fumigatus in a 59-year-old female patient with a history of astrocytoma treated with high doses of corticosteroids and a subsequent CD4 lymphocyte count of 30/µl.

CONCLUSION: A heightened clinical awareness and a stringent and accurate diagnostic work-up encompassing diagnostic tools to detect even coincident fungal infections is crucial for sufficient and early antifungal treatment in immunocompromised patients with lung infiltrates.