A Case of Haemophilus influenzae Colonisation in Bronchiectasis Following COVID-19: Post-COVID-19 Bronchiectasis as a Structural Hotbed for Chronic Airway Infections.

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to respiratory sequelae, including bronchiectasis. While bronchiectasis following tuberculosis is a breeding ground for many bacterial infections/colonisation, there are few reports of bronchiectasis following COVID-19 being a hotbed for bacterial infection/colonisation. We present a case of a 69-year-old female who developed bronchiectasis following COVID-19 pneumonia. The patient had no abnormal findings on chest CT scan for 5 years before COVID-19. She developed persistent cough and sputum after COVID-19 and chest CT just after COVID-19 revealed new bronchiectasis. One year later, she was introduced to our department for repeating exacerbation of chronic respiratory infection, and Haemophilus influenzae was detected in sputum. This case highlights the potential for H. influenzae to infect/colonise in post-COVID-19 bronchiectasis. While there have been few reports of chronic airway infection complicating bronchiectasis after COVID-19 until now, long-term respiratory follow-up and management of bacterial colonisation are crucial in these patients in the future. This case suggests that COVID-19 can predispose individuals to bacterial infection in the setting of bronchiectasis, emphasising the need for vigilance in post-COVID-19 airway management.