Three cases of concurrent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

Impaired cellular-mediated immunity is a known risk factor for both tuberculosis and cryptococcosis. However, pulmonary cryptococcosis associated with pulmonary tuberculosis is rare. We herein describe three cases of concurrent infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Cryptococcus neoformans. All patients had underlying diseases; all three had uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, and other underlying diseases were liver cirrhosis, malignancy, and rheumatoid arthritis requiring long-term steroid use. We also review other relevant reports.