Fortuitous discovery of pulmonary tuberculosis in an asymptomatic, SARS-CoV-2 positive, Moroccan patient

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has created worldwide change in screening, management, and deadlines for the treatment of tuberculosis, among other latent diseases. Safe access to health-care structures, drug interactions, and ongoing changes in treatment guidelines are the main challenges. The first published cohort of 45 patients with both tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection presented three different scenarios regarding the timing of these diagnoses, both diagnoses being made within the same week in only nine of these patients. Thus far, tuberculosis has not been shown to influence the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The association between these two diseases may be incidental. Tuberculosis remains the leading lethal infection worldwide. 2In patients with preexisting pulmonary tuberculosis and COVID-19, management priorities, drug interactions, and optimal frequency of clinical, biological, and radiological check-ups require clarification. We here report an asymptomatic young patient who had both COVID-19 and pulmonary tuberculosis, raising challenging questions regarding diagnostic tools, treatment, and follow-up.