Clinical Characteristics of HIV-Associated Talaromyces marneffei Infection of Intestine in Southern China
Zhiman Xie, Jingzhen Lai, Renping Peng, Minhong Mou, Hao Liang, Chuanyi Ning
Abstract
Intestinal Talaromyces marneffei (TM) infection among patients with HIV/AIDS is rare. Herein, we report 31 cases of intestinal TM infection in Guangxi. Most patients exhibited fever, lymphadenectasis in the abdominal cavity, and chronic intestinal symptoms. CD4+ T-cell counts <50 cells/μL were reported in 28 patients. TM was cultured from the blood of 23 patients and from the marrow of 7 patients, whereas TM-like fungal spores in the cytoplasm of tissues with erosion, ulceration, and/or polyps were found in all 31 patients. We suggest that intestinal TM infection should be considered among patients infected with HIV with extremely low CD4+ T-cell counts (<50 cells/μL) who are manifesting fever, chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, and endoscopic evidence of erosion and/or ulceration.