Table. Epidemiologic and clinical features for 4 patients with coronavirus disease and tuberculosis, Singapore*.
| Pt no. | Age, y/sex, nationality | Initial signs/symptoms | Radiologic findings | Pleural fluid analysis | Sputum analysis | Microbiological findings | IGRA for TB | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1† |
32/M, India |
Fever, productive cough |
CXR: right upper zone and left lower zone cavitary lesions;
chest CT: irregular opacifications with central cavitation |
NA |
AFB smear negative; molecular TB analysis negative |
Sputum AFB culture negative |
+ |
Symptoms resolved; repeat CXR after starting ATT demonstrated resolution of cavitary lesions at 2 mo of treatment |
| 2 |
33/M, India |
Fever, nonproductive cough; 3-kg weight loss over 1 mo |
CXR: right-sided pleural effusion;
chest CT: loculated right-sided effusion with adjacent collapse/consolidation |
Lymphocytic exudative effusion; ADA 130 U/L;
SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative |
AFB smear negative;
molecular TB analysis negative |
Sputum and pleural fluid AFB cultures pending |
+ |
Symptoms resolved with interval improvement of CXR |
| 3† |
22/M, India |
Fever, nonproductive cough; exertional dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain |
CXR: right-sided pleural effusion with adjacent compressive atelectasis |
Lymphocytic exudative effusion; ADA 112 U/L;
SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative |
AFB smear negative;
molecular TB analysis negative |
Sputum and pleural fluid AFB cultures pending |
+ |
Symptoms resolved with interval improvement of CXR |
| 4 | 40/M, Bangladesh | Fever, productive cough; reduced effort tolerance | CXR: large left-sided pleural effusion; Chest CT: left-sided pleural effusion, bilateral patchy consolidative changes with ground-glass opacities and interlobular septal thickening | Lymphocytic exudative effusion; ADA 69 U/L; SARS-CoV-2 PCR negative | AFB smear negative; molecular TB analysis negative | Sputum AFB culture negative; pleural fluid AFB culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex | + | Symptoms resolved with interval improvement of CXR |
*ADA, adenosine deaminase; AFB, acid-fast bacilli; ATT, anti-TB therapy; CT, computed tomography image; CXR, plain chest radiograph; IGRA, interferon gamma release assay; NA, not applicable; Pt, patient; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; TB, tuberculosis; +, positive. †These patients reside in the same dormitory.