Management of Blastomycosis Infection

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What causes blastomycosis?

Blastomycosis is a pulmonary disease caused by inhaling spores of the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. Occasionally, the fungi spread hematogenously, causing extrapulmonary disease. Symptoms result from pneumonia or from dissemination to multiple organs, most commonly the skin.

What is blastomycosis fungus?

Blastomycosis is a type of fungal infection that occurs when a person inhales spores of the Blastomyces dermatitidis or Blastomyces gilchristii fungus. As the fungus tends to live in moist soil and decomposing leaves or wood, a person is most likely to inhale the spores when performing an activity that disrupts the soil, such as:

Where did blastomycosis originate?

The most closely related blastomycosis-causing fungi, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Blastomyces gilchristii, diverged during the Pleistocene, approximately 1.9 million years ago. At the Koster Site in Illinois, evidence pointing to possible blastomycosis infections among Late Woodland Native Americans has been identified.

Where does blastomycosis occur?

blastomycosis, infection of the lungs with fungal organisms of the genus Blastomyces. Blastomyces occur in the environment, being abundant especially in decomposing organic matter and damp soil. The organisms are endemic to the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys, the Great Lakes region, and the southeastern United States.

What causes blastomycosis in humans?

Infection most typically occurs following disturbance of soil in areas inhabited by Blastomyces; disturbance releases fungal spores into the air, resulting in their inhalation. Most cases of blastomycosis in humans involve Blastomyces dermatitidis. Infection generally is mild, and some persons are asymptomatic.

When should blastomycosis be considered?

Blastomycosis should be considered in patients who live or visit regions where Blastomyces is endemic and have unresolving pneumonia despite antibiotic therapy, concomitant pulmonary and cutaneous infection, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or a compatible illness following recognizable risk factors for Blastomyces exposure.

What Is Blastomycosis

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/blastomycosis
2. https://www.webmd.com/lung/what-is-blastomycosis
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blastomycosis
4. https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/blastomycosis/index.html
5. https://www.emedicinehealth.com/blastomycosis/article_em.htm
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441987/
7. https://www.everydayhealth.com/infectious-diseases/blastomycosis/guide/
8. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/fungi/blastomycosis

Blastomycosis Information

1. https://www.britannica.com/science/blastomycosis
2. https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/infections/fungal-infections/blastomycosis