Abstract | BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate diagnosis of HIV-positive patients with Talaromyces marneffei (T. marneffei) infections remains challenging. A 60-year-old woman came to our inpatient department presenting with hematuria, abdominal pain, and diarrhea for one week. The patient had a past medical history of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ( AIDS). The patient's stool was watery and the color of soy sauce. The patient was without fever, cough, and skin lesions. METHODS: The blood routine was performed with a Mindray BC-6900 hematology analyzer. RESULTS: Blood routine showed leukocytosis with neutrophilia and basophils and the WBC/DIFF scattergram showed a cluster of neutrophils connected with a monocyte and lymphocyte cluster and an additional cluster of immature granulocytes and heterotypic lymphocytes or primitive cells. Surprisingly, the peripheral blood film evaluation revealed small round-to-ovoid yeast cells within the cytoplasm of neutrophils. A T. marneffei infection was suspected and anti-fungal therapy was initiated. The patient's diarrhea improved after treatment with amphotericin B for two days. A second blood routine showed a normal number of leukocytes and basophils and a diminished cluster of immature granulocytes and heterotypic lymphocytes or primitive cells. After one week, blood cultures had grown T. marneffei. CONCLUSIONS: The WBC/DIFF scattergram obtained from a Mindray BC-6900 analyzer provided significant hints to enhance diagnosis of T. marneffei when combined with results of a peripheral blood smear.
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Authors | Wenjie Huang, Zhenni Lu, Liangyan Wu, Wenting Luo, Siqun Liang, Jin Feng, Xiaoyong Liu, Qiang Su, Jianlin Chen, Chunming Liu, Yifan Sun |
Journal | Clinical laboratory
(Clin Lab)
Vol. 67
Issue 2
(Feb 01 2021)
ISSN: 1433-6510 [Print] Germany |
PMID | 33616342
(Publication Type: Case Reports)
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Topics |
- Female
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Mycoses
(diagnosis, drug therapy)
- Talaromyces
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