Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus Co-infection in a Two-Year-Old Immunocompetent Patient: A Case Report.
Giorgie Petković, Ivana Maloča Vuljanko, Zrinka Kačić Miličić, Ana Tripalo Batoš, Ivan Pavić
Cureus · 2025-05
Abstract
Co-infections in pulmonary tuberculosis are rare among immunocompetent children in settings with low tuberculosis prevalence. We present a case of a two-year-old immunocompetent child with necrotic pleuropneumonia caused by,, andco-infection in a low tuberculosis prevalence setting. A 24-month-old boy presented with a five-day history of cough, followed by three days of high fever and dyspnea. Initial laboratory inflammatory markers were elevated. Chest ultrasound, radiography, and CT scan revealed necrotic changes in the right upper lobe with bullae, pleural effusion, and subcutaneous emphysema. Initial therapeutic procedures included the evacuation of 140 mL of hemorrhagic content from the pleural space. Microbiological analysis revealedtype 3 from pleural effusion andfrom blood culture. Antimicrobial therapy included ceftriaxone and clindamycin for six weeks. Following flexible bronchoscopy, microbiological culture from aspirated material detected. Anamnesis did not clarify any prior contact with a tuberculosis-infected individual. This case represents an example ofandsuperinfection on evolving pulmonary tuberculosis. To our knowledge, no literature is currently available indicating the co-existence of tuberculosis, streptococcal, and staphylococcal pulmonary infection in an immunocompetent patient in a population with low tuberculosis prevalence.