Coinfection withCryptococcus GattiiandMycobacterium Tuberculosisin an Otherwise Healthy 18-Year-Old Woman

Abstract

A case ofCryptococcus gattii(pulmonary and central nervous system) andMycobacterium tuberculosis(pulmonary) coinfection in an otherwise healthy young woman is reported. The patient presented with a two-month history of dry cough. She had an unremarkable medical history. Both tuberculosis and cryptococcosis were diagnosed following bronchoscopy, and a subsequent lumbar puncture revealedC gattiiin the cerebrospinal fluid. There is evidence that bothM tuberculosisandC gattiimay have suppressive effects on the host immune system. This suggests a mechanism by which an otherwise healthy individual developed these two infections.