Blastomycosi

s
Lynette Helminen
Med Micro

Blastomycosis
Blastomycosis

is a fungal
disease caused by
Blastomyces dermatitidis.
Dimorphic fungus (room
temp: mold, body temp:
yeast)
Found in moist soil,
decomposing wood, and
leaves
Affects humans and other
animals (mainly cats and
dogs)

Wisconsin Outbreak
Typically found in Midwestern
states (WI, MN, Ohio, around
the Great Lakes & Mississippi
River)
Incidence: 1-2 cases per
100,000
Largest Reported outbreak:
2009-2010 in Marathon Co, WI
55 cases and significantly
higher in Asians.
Will not spread from person to
person or animal to person.

Etiology
Blastomyces

dermatitidis is
mold with septate
aerial hyphae
The hyphae
produce spores
which become
airborne as soil is
disturbed

Etiology cont.
Spores are inhaled or
inoculated into the skin
The warmer temperature
inside the host signals a
transformation into a
budding yeast.
The yeast can colonize the
lungs or circulate in the
bloodstream to other parts
of the body, (skin, bones
and joints, organs, and
central nervous system).

Pathology
Only half of people infected
will show symptoms which
appear between 3-15
weeks
Lung Infections
Flu-like symptoms: fever,
chills, cough, muscle aches,
joint pain, and chest pain
In serious cases, the fungus
can spread to other parts of
the body(skin and bones).

Risk & Prevention

Risk
Anyone can get it, but
higher risk with
immunocompromised, or
people with underlying
conditions like diabetes
People in endemic regions
People who partake in
activities in the woods
(camping, hunting, farming)

Prevention

No vaccines
People with weakened
immune systems should
avoid wooded areas
where fungus is present

Diagnosis
Diagnose

with fungal culture.

Small sample from tissues or body fluids
(blood, sputum, bone marrow, liver, or skin)
and see if fungus will grow in a laboratory.
Looking at a sample of infected tissue under a
microscope.
An antigen test detects presence of the fungus
in a urine or serum sample
A blood test can measure prior exposure to the
fungus by detecting Blastomyces antibodies

Treatment
Antifungal medicine
Mild or moderate infections: itraconazole
More severe infections may require
amphotericin B.
Newer antifungal medications
(voriconazole and posaconazole) are also
available, but their role is still being
determined.

Sources
http://

www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/blastomyco
sis/index.html
http://www.life-worldwide.org/assets/
uploads/files/Roy%20Blastomycosis%20o
utbreak%20Clin%20Infect%20Dis%202013.
pdf