Publication:

Clinical profile of patients with COVID-19 and tuberculosis co-infection in a tertiary care hospital

Background Historical evidences suggest that Tuberculosis (TB) with concurrent respiratory viral infections, such as, Influenza has been associated with higher mortality. TB and COVID-19 co-infection has implications beyond mortality at the individual level. Hence there is a need to study the clinical characteristics and outcomes in COVID-19 and TB co-infection.

Methods In this retrospective observational study, COVID-19 cases admitted to Victoria Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru, twenty-six patients with COVID 19 and TB co-infection were observed and their clinical characteristics, radiological and laboratory parameters were recorded and analyzed for the impact of COVID-19 on TB.

Results Raised inflammatory markers, high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocytopenia were observed in majority of the cases. There was worsening of Tubercular lesions on Chest radiography in eighteen patients (69%). Out of the twenty six, sixteen patients (61%) needed supplemental oxygen therapy at admission, Five (19%) of them needed Assisted ventilation and intensive care. Out of the five patients who needed intensive care, two (7.6%) patients succumbed to death owing to Severe COVID-19 pneumonia, respiratory failure and other co-morbid conditions.

Conclusions Co-infection with COVID-19 and TB alters the severity, the course and management of the disease and can be associated with adverse outcomes and is associated with high mortality; a high index of suspicion is required for the detection of this co-infection and bi-directional screening of COVID-19 and TB must be carried out for the early detection and management of this co-infection.