A case of pleural tuberculosis vs latent tuberculosis reactivation as a result of COVID-19 infection and treatment

The reactivation of latent tuberculosis occurs when a patient living with Mycobacterium tuberculosis enters a state where the immune system is suppressed. Since early 2021, the standard of care has been to provide corticosteroids in patients with COVID-19 infection in hospitalized patients receiving supplemental oxygen or mechanical ventilation. The immunomodulatory effects of corticosteroids are potentially detrimental for patients with latent vs active tuberculosis, with concomitant SARS-CoV2 infection. We present one of the first few cases in the literature detailing a case of reactivation of latent tuberculosis vs. pleural tuberculosis as a consequence of COVID-19, and who underwent subsequent corticosteroid treatment.