Pneumocystis carinii, cytomegalovirus, and severe transient immunodeficiency

Bacterial-Fungal Interactions Including Quorum Sensing, Between 2 Opportunistic Pathogens, Resulting in Post-Traumatic Sepsis in a Child Presenting With a Closed Femoral Fracture

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans (are opportunistic pathogens that cause systemic infections in immune-suppressed patients. They show important bacterial-fungal interactions including quorum sensing. This involves cell signaling to communicate between the cells of their own colony and the cells of rival microbes or the host. It is thought that this phenomenon is vital in the potential competition and virulence of the organisms. We report a case of a previously healthy 2-year-old boy, where an accidental injury had been sustained resulting in a closed fracture of femur. He subsequently developed sepsis related to co-infection by C. albicans and P. aeruginosa. Trauma may result in a transient immune-suppression and predispose to sepsis caused by opportunistic microorganisms. They can engage in bacterial-fungal interaction. Clinicians should consider invasive co-infection when initial cultures show evidence for only 1 pathogen.

Congenital and perinatal cytomegalovirus lung infection

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis may be severe, even lethal, following congenital infection or in premature infants with perinatal infection.

OBJECTIVE

To review the epidemiological, pathogenetic, clinical and therapeutic features of prenatal and perinatal CMV lung diseases.

METHODS

Evaluation of all published papers listed on PubMed describing CMV pneumonitis in infants.

RESULTS

CMV is frequent and severe in immunosuppressed infants but infrequent in full-term neonates and occurs more frequently after perinatal than after congenital infection, particularly in premature infants. In premature infants, CMV infection is often protracted and causes a diffuse interstitial pneumonitis leading to fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Congenital CMV infection should also be considered in newborns with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome and refractory respiratory failure with progression to early chronic lung disease. The association between breast milk-transmitted CMV and development of cystic lung disease and Wilson-Mikity syndrome has also been reported. Data on the efficacy of antiviral therapy for infants with respiratory CMV diseases are lacking and only anecdotal case reports are available.

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent CMV infection appears to cause a diffuse necrotizing pneumonitis with fibrosis leading to BPD, in both immunocompromised or preterm infants and, less frequently in immunocompetent infants. The role of antiviral therapy remains to be elucidated.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome by cytomegalovirus infection in an immunocompetent infant

A 2-month-old female infant was admitted with progressive respiratory distress, fever, and diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The primary pulmonary pathogen was proven to be cytomegalovirus (CMV) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, urine, and blood specimens. Other immunologic findings were normal. CMV-induced ARDS has not been reported previously in immunocompetent infants.