Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> primarily causes pneumonia in immunosuppressed individuals, particularly those living with advanced HIV/AIDS. Extrapulmonary dissemination is uncommon, with bone marrow involvement described in only a...

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Main Authors: Diego Alejandro Cubides-Diaz, Valentina Negrette-Lazaro, Viviana Poveda-Hurtado, Juan Pablo López-Salazar, Carlos Mauricio Calderón-Vargas, Carlos Arturo Álvarez-Moreno
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Infectious Disease Reports
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/17/3/47
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author Diego Alejandro Cubides-Diaz
Valentina Negrette-Lazaro
Viviana Poveda-Hurtado
Juan Pablo López-Salazar
Carlos Mauricio Calderón-Vargas
Carlos Arturo Álvarez-Moreno
author_facet Diego Alejandro Cubides-Diaz
Valentina Negrette-Lazaro
Viviana Poveda-Hurtado
Juan Pablo López-Salazar
Carlos Mauricio Calderón-Vargas
Carlos Arturo Álvarez-Moreno
author_sort Diego Alejandro Cubides-Diaz
collection DOAJ
description Background: <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> primarily causes pneumonia in immunosuppressed individuals, particularly those living with advanced HIV/AIDS. Extrapulmonary dissemination is uncommon, with bone marrow involvement described in only a handful of cases globally. Bone marrow infection occurs in the setting of severe immunosuppression, poses diagnostic challenges, and carries a high mortality rate. Methods: We describe the case of a 34-year-old man newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, presenting with severe immunosuppression and <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> pneumonia. The patient initially improved with cotrimoxazole and corticosteroids, but was readmitted shortly after discharge with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and worsening pancytopenia. A bone marrow biopsy revealed <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> cysts, confirming disseminated infection. Concomitant Kaposi sarcoma involving the skin and gastrointestinal tract was also diagnosed. Despite antimicrobial therapy, the patient’s condition worsened, leading to multisystem organ failure and death two months later. Conclusions: This case highlights a rare presentation of disseminated <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> infection with bone marrow involvement in a patient with advanced HIV/AIDS. Although infrequent, this complication should be considered in individuals with <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> pneumonia who develop persistent cytopenias and systemic symptoms. Diagnosis depends on histopathologic confirmation, which may lead to under-recognition. Early suspicion and individualized management are essential, though the optimal treatment approach for extrapulmonary infection remains undefined.
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spelling doaj-art-e83e16b01ca441ba97a256ae22f5e3a22025-08-20T03:24:38ZengMDPI AGInfectious Disease Reports2036-74492025-05-011734710.3390/idr17030047Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature ReviewDiego Alejandro Cubides-Diaz0Valentina Negrette-Lazaro1Viviana Poveda-Hurtado2Juan Pablo López-Salazar3Carlos Mauricio Calderón-Vargas4Carlos Arturo Álvarez-Moreno5Department of Internal Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaFaculty of Medicine, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, ColombiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía 250001, ColombiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana, Zipaquirá 250252, ColombiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitario de La Samaritana, Bogotá 110411, ColombiaFaculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá 111321, ColombiaBackground: <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> primarily causes pneumonia in immunosuppressed individuals, particularly those living with advanced HIV/AIDS. Extrapulmonary dissemination is uncommon, with bone marrow involvement described in only a handful of cases globally. Bone marrow infection occurs in the setting of severe immunosuppression, poses diagnostic challenges, and carries a high mortality rate. Methods: We describe the case of a 34-year-old man newly diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, presenting with severe immunosuppression and <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> pneumonia. The patient initially improved with cotrimoxazole and corticosteroids, but was readmitted shortly after discharge with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and worsening pancytopenia. A bone marrow biopsy revealed <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> cysts, confirming disseminated infection. Concomitant Kaposi sarcoma involving the skin and gastrointestinal tract was also diagnosed. Despite antimicrobial therapy, the patient’s condition worsened, leading to multisystem organ failure and death two months later. Conclusions: This case highlights a rare presentation of disseminated <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> infection with bone marrow involvement in a patient with advanced HIV/AIDS. Although infrequent, this complication should be considered in individuals with <i data-eusoft-scrollable-element="1">Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> pneumonia who develop persistent cytopenias and systemic symptoms. Diagnosis depends on histopathologic confirmation, which may lead to under-recognition. Early suspicion and individualized management are essential, though the optimal treatment approach for extrapulmonary infection remains undefined.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/17/3/47<i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i>extrapulmonary infectionbone marrowAIDSopportunistic infectionscase report
spellingShingle Diego Alejandro Cubides-Diaz
Valentina Negrette-Lazaro
Viviana Poveda-Hurtado
Juan Pablo López-Salazar
Carlos Mauricio Calderón-Vargas
Carlos Arturo Álvarez-Moreno
Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review
Infectious Disease Reports
<i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i>
extrapulmonary infection
bone marrow
AIDS
opportunistic infections
case report
title Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_fullStr Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_full_unstemmed Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_short Bone Marrow Infection by <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> in a Patient with AIDS: A Case Report and Literature Review
title_sort bone marrow infection by i pneumocystis jirovecii i in a patient with aids a case report and literature review
topic <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i>
extrapulmonary infection
bone marrow
AIDS
opportunistic infections
case report
url https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7449/17/3/47
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