Medical Case Reports

Epstein-Barr Viral infection in a Young Healthy Female with Complicated Klebsiella Pyelonephritis: Co-infection, Causing Severe Rhabdomyolysis without Renal Injury

Background: Rhabdomyolysis can be caused by several factors including bacterial and viral infections. In rare cases, Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) infection can cause rhabdomyolysis. to date, there have been only 6 case reports of EBV-linked rhabdomyolysis, all of which have been associated with significant elevations in CK levels. Aggressive hydration is at the forefront of medical therapy to prevent complications, including acute renal failure. Case summary: Here, we present a case of a 19-year-old female with no significant medical history who presented with a complicated Klebsiella-UTI and was found to have severe rhabdomyolysis and positive EBV titer. Renal impairment did not occur despite the klebsiella-induced renal insult and the severe rhabdomyolysis caused by EBV co-infection. Conclusion: Co-infection of EBV with other bacterial infections, as in this case with Klebsiella pneumonia, may occur, which may obscure the diagnosis and create challenges for management of rhabdomyolysis if occurs. Clinicians should clinically suspect EBV co-infection in appropriate clinical scenarios.

Author(s):

Siddharth Chinta1, Diana Maria Ronderos-Botero1,2*, Aparna Behara1, Gabriella Roa-Gomez1,2 and
Ravish Singhal1,2

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