Clinical observations of the course of a new coronavirus infection in patients with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis and respiratory failure

Objective. Analysis of the clinical course of a new coronavirus infection in patients with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and respiratory failure.

Materials and methods. We analyzed 6 case histories of patients with TB who fell ill with COVID-19 and were treated in a temporary infectious diseases department deployed at an anti-tuberculosis dispensary in 2021. The clinical course of a new coronavirus infection in 3 patients with chronic pulmonary T and respiratory failure in comparison with 3 patients without symptoms respiratory failure of was described in detail. In total, 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were identified in the Ryazan region among 217 TB patients registered at the TB dispensary, which amounted to 9.67%. All TB patients recovered from COVID-19. None of them received anti-cytokine therapy or required mechanical ventilation.

Results. In 4 out of 6 patients with co-infection, COVID-19 occurred with symptoms of moderate intoxication and viral colonization of the upper respiratory tract, without damage to the lung tissue, in 2 – with such damage (in one – CT-1, in the second – CT-2). Patients with background respiratory failure had a moderate course, and those without signs of respiratory failure had a mild course of COVID-19.

Conclusion. Despite the pronounced initial background and somatic burden, 3 patients with chronic pulmonary TB and respiratory failure had a moderate course of coronavirus infection.