Candida pneumonia secondary to an acquired tracheosophageal fistula in a patient with AIDS

Abstract

Fungal pneumonias represent approximately 5% of all pulmonary infections occurring in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The most commonly observed cause of fungal pneumonia is Cryptococcus neoformans, followed by Histoplasma capsulatum or Coccidioides immitis, depending on the geographic location. Despite the prevalence of oral thrush and esophageal candidiasis in patients with AIDS, pnemonia caused by Candida albicans is extremely uncommon. The following case report represents, to our knowledge, the first description of a candidal pneumonia secondary to aspiration through a tracheoesophageal fistula in a patient with AIDS.