Non-resolving Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) due to Blastomyces dermatitidis (Pulmonary Blastomycosis): Case Report and Review of Literature

Authors

Johnson Britto, St. Elizabeth Physicians, Infectious Disease, Crestview Hills, KY, USAFollow

Funder

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.

Abstract

In this case report, we describe a case of progressive acute pulmonary blastomycosis in a healthy adult living in Kentucky, initially presenting with flu like illness with a left sided consolidation, who did not respond to antibiotic therapy. Patient’s clinical condition deteriorated with development of necrotizing bronchopneumonia, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, tree-in-bud reticulonodularity and pleural effusion. A diagnosis of progressive pulmonary blastomycosis was established by radiological findings as well as transbronchial needle aspiration cytology and bronchoalveolar lavage culture demonstrating Blastomyces dermatitidis. Patient showed significant clinical improvement with resolution of pulmonary lesions on antifungal treatment. Since symptoms of blastomycosis are often similar to the symptoms of flu or other lung infections, our case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion and appropriate microbiologic and histologic evaluation especially in patients who live in or have traveled to areas endemic for blastomycosis and are not responding to antibiotic therapy. Early diagnosis coupled with prompt initiation of antifungal treatment may lead to favorable outcomes.

DOI

10.18297/jri/vol2/iss1/9/

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Britto, Johnson (2018) "Non-resolving Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) due to Blastomyces dermatitidis (Pulmonary Blastomycosis): Case Report and Review of Literature," The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/jri/vol2/iss1/9/
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jri/vol2/iss1/9