Persistent Clostridium difficile Colitis Mimicking A Fatal Case Of Strongyloides Hyperinfection Syndrome

Abstract

Strongyloidiasis, a disease caused by the helminth Strongyloides stercoralis, has been identified as a life-threatening parasitic infection among immunocompromised patients. In the most severe cases, which include hyperinfection syndrome and dissemination of larvae throughout multiple organ sites, there is typically a history of immunosuppression among the infected. Herein, we describe a fatal case of S. stercoralis hyperinfection in an immigrant from rural Ecuador presenting with diarrhea along with Clostridium difficile colitis after the use of a prolonged course of steroids. Despite the appropriate administration of ivermectin, living Strongyloides larvae were discovered in a tracheal lavage. The patient ultimately developed a multiorgan failure requiring life-supporting measures in the intensive care unit and later succumbed to his condition. This case of S. stercoralis hyperinfection emphasizes the importance of screening for this parasite in the appropriate clinical scenarios. The diagnosis of S. stercoralis can be made more accessible to practitioners through the use of methods such as the modified Baermann technique, agar-plate culture, and serologic antibody testing.

Keywords: Corticosteroids; Diarrhea; Infectious Disease; International Health; Parasitology; Strongyloidiasis.