Journal List > Infect Chemother > v.40(5) > 1075420

Ha, Lee, Ha, and An: A Case of Severe Strongyloidiasis in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Receiving Long-Term Steroid Therapy

Abstract

Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted intestinal nematode that may cause long-lived auto-infection in the host. It is distributed worldwide, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions, but has been rarely reported in Korea. Chronic infections by S. stercoralis are mostly inapparent infections that carry nonspecific gastrointestinal and pulmonary symptoms. However, In immunocompromised patients such as those receiving long-term steroid therapy and patients with AIDS or malignant tumors, S. stercoralis can induce hyperinfection by autoinfection. This may lead to increased rate of complications such as resistance to chemotherapy and sepsis. In such cases mortality rate of up to 87% has been reported. We report a case of severe strongyloidiasis in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who was receiving long-term steroid therapy. The chief complaint was repeated dyspnea and hematochezia, and strongyloidiasis was diagnosed by the presence of rhabditiform larvae of S. stercoralis in the fecal smear and isolation of filariform larvae from the stool culture. The patient developed septic shock during treatment with albendazole and showed clinical signs of hyperinfection of S. stercoralis. He eventually died despite aggressive treatment.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
In patient's stool examination by the formalin-ether concentration method, several actively motile rhabditiform larvae were observed under the light microscope. scale bar=100 µm.
ic-40-276-g001
Figure 2
A rhabditiform larva of S. stercoralis, 251.4±5.8×20.6±0.6 µm in size. scale bar=50 µm.
ic-40-276-g002
Figure 3
A filariform larva of S. stercolaris, 482.9±3.4×11.7±1.8 µm in size. scale bar=100 µm.
ic-40-276-g003
Figure 4
A filariform larva of S. stercolaris with characteristic notched tail. scale bar=25 µm.
ic-40-276-g004

References

1. Siddiqui AA, Berk SL. Diagnosis of Strongyloides stercoralis infection. Clin Infect Dis. 2001. 33:1040–1047.
2. Lee SK, Shin BM, Khang SK, Chai JY, Kook J, Hong ST, Lee SH. Nine cases of strongyloidiasis in Korea. Korean J Parasitol. 1994. 32:49–52.
crossref
3. Kim SY, Kim NY, Lee KH, Gu MS, Chai JY, Kook J, Lee SH. A case of strongyloidiasis accompanied by duodenal ulcer. Korea J Parasit. 1992. 30:231–234.
crossref
4. Hong SJ, Shin JS, Kim SY. A case of strongloidiasis with hyperinfection syndrome. Korean J Parasitol. 1988. 26:221–226.
crossref
5. Lee SH, Ahn SJ, Koh IY, Jang JS, Park MA, Kim KH, Huh KY, Lee JH, Lee H, Han SY. A Case of Strongyloidiasis Associated with Intestinal obstruction in a Patient with Alcoholic Liver Disease. Infect Chemother. 2003. 35:467–470.
6. Namisato S, Motomura K, Haranaga S, Hirata T, Toyama M, Shinzato T, Higa F, Saito A. Pulmonary strongyloidiasis in a patient receiving prednisolone therapy. Intern Med. 2004. 43:731–736.
crossref
7. Barr JR. Strongyloides stercoralis. Can Med Assoc J. 1978. 118:933–935.
8. Ford J, Reiss-Levy E, Clark E, Dyson AJ, Schonell M. Pulmonary strongyloidiasis and lung abscess. Chest. 1981. 79:239–240.
crossref
9. Concha R, Harrington W Jr, Rogers AI. Intestinal strongyloidiasis: recognition, management, and determinants of outcome. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005. 39:203–211.
10. Fardet L, Gnreau T, Cabane J, Kettaneh A. Severe strongyloidiasis in corticosteroid-treated patients. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2006. 12:945–947.
crossref
11. Marcos LA, Terashima A, Dupont HL, Gotuzzo E. Strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome: an emerging global infectious disease. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008. 102:314–318.
crossref
12. Csermely L, Jaafar H, Kristensen J, Castella A, Gorka W, Chebli AA, Trab F, Alizadeh H, Hunyady B. Strongyloides hyper-infection causing life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding. World J Gastroenterol. 2006. 12:6401–6404.
crossref
13. Zaha O, Hirata T, Kinjo F, Saito A. Strongyloidiasis-progress in diagnosis and treatment. Intern Med. 2000. 39:695–700.
crossref
14. Ghosh K, Ghosh K. Strongyloides stercoralis septicaemia following steroid therapy for eosinophilia: report of three cases. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2007. 101:1163–1165.
crossref
15. Shikiya K, Kinjo N, Uehara T, Uechi H, Ohshiro J, Arakaki T, Kinjo F, Saito A, Iju M, Kobari K. Efficacy of ivermectin against Strongyloides stercoralis in humans. Intern Med. 1992. 31:310–312.
crossref
TOOLS
Similar articles