Unsuspected Toxoplasma gondii empyema in a bone marrow transplant recipient

Clin Infect Dis. 2002 May 1;34(9):e37-9. doi: 10.1086/339960. Epub 2002 Apr 3.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Empyema / drug therapy
  • Empyema / epidemiology
  • Empyema / mortality
  • Empyema / parasitology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / epidemiology
  • Lung Diseases / parasitology
  • Opportunistic Infections / parasitology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Toxoplasma* / drug effects
  • Toxoplasmosis / drug therapy
  • Toxoplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Toxoplasmosis / mortality
  • Toxoplasmosis / parasitology*