Reactivation of cytomegalovirus infection in a post-COVID patient leading to cytomegalovirus pneumonia and colitis

Abstract

COVID-19 is a severe disease characterized by a multifactorial immunodeficient state in critically ill patients who have had no prior immunodeficiencies. Much of the mortality in COVID has been attributed to an unprecedented high number of secondary coinfections ranging from bacterial pneumonia to opportunistic infections such as invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Case reports reporting reactivation of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection are scanty. To the best of our knowledge, we describe one of the very few cases of a previously immunocompetent healthy individual who suffered from reactivation of CMV infection and involvement of invasive infection (CMV pneumonia and CMV colitis).