COVID-19 Co-infection in a patient with brucella bacteremia

Elzein, Fatehi; Alsherbeeni, Nisreen; Almatrafi, Kholoud; Shosha, Diaa; N, Kaabia

We discuss a patient who presented with fever, chills and rigors, myalgia, sore throat, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The total white blood cell count was normal. The lymphocyte and platelet counts were within normal limits. There was no contact with confirmed COVID-19 patient, but the disease was circulating at the time of presentation. He admitted to anosmia and hypogeusia. A nasopharyngeal swab r-RT PCR test was positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. His chest examination and chest x-ray were normal. The patient had contact with animals and consumed unpasteurized camel milk. Both the blood culture and brucella serology tests were positive. This case illustrates that co-infection can occur and it is important to rule out endemic diseases in patients with COVID-19. Similarly, patients presenting with febrile endemic diseases may be harboring mild SARS-COV-2 virus infections and may need to be screened when the disease is suggested by epidemiological exposure.