Pulmonary talaromycosis leads to respiratory failure in an HIV-negative patient in Shandong province: case report

Abstract Background Talaromyces marneffei is a common travel related fungal disease, mostly prevalent in south China and commonly found in HIV-positive patients. In recent years, the number of reports on HIV-negative patients has been increasing year by year, while there have been few reports on successful treatment of localized pulmonary talaromycosis with respiratory failure. Case presentation: A 50 year-old welder returned from Fujian to Zibo, Shandong due to fever and respiratory distress, and sought medical attention at our department. The patient collected pathogenic specimens through various methods, and finally sputum culture revealed Talaromyces marneffei. After active antifungal treatment and respiratory support, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital. Conclusion The infectious pathogen of diffuse pulmonary lesions combined with respiratory failure can also be Talaromyces marneffei. Tracking the disease history, obtaining pathogens through multiple pathways, and seeking timely and reasonable antifungal treatment are the keys to successful treatment.