II. Pathophysiology

  1. Caused by Blastomyces dermatidis (dimorphic fungus)
  2. Transmitted by exposure to contaminated soil or decomposing timber
    1. Inhalation of spores
    2. Traumatized, non-intact skin exposure (see Cutaneous Blastomycosis)
  3. Endemic regions of United States (surrounding large water bodies)
    1. Ohio River Basin
    2. Mississippi River Basin
    3. Great Lakes
    4. St. Lawrence River

III. Symptoms

  1. Pulmonary involvement is initially asymptomatic in 50% of cases
  2. Symptomatic patients have similar presentations to viral and Bacterial Pneumonia (but more insidious)
    1. Fever
    2. Sweating
    3. Cough
    4. Dyspnea
    5. Chest Pain (may be Pleuritic Chest Pain)
    6. Weight loss
    7. Nocturnal Joint Pain

IV. Signs

  1. Acute disease
    1. Self-limited Pneumonia may clear spontaneously in most patients
    2. Skin involvement (most common extrapulmonary manifestation of Blastomycosis)
      1. See Cutaneous Blastomycosis
  2. Disseminated blastomyces lesions from hematogenous spread (severe cases may be fatal)
    1. Bone
    2. Genitourinary system (including Kidneys)
    3. Nervous system
    4. Liver
    5. Spleen

V. Imaging

  1. Chest XRay of Chronic Blastomycosis
    1. Test Sensitivity: 66%
    2. Osteolytic lesions
    3. Pleural Effusions

VI. Lab

  1. Microscopy
    1. Broad-based budding
  2. Skin lesion Evaluation
    1. Pustular discharge for Potassium Hydroxide
    2. Skin biopsy
    3. See Cutaneous Blastomycosis
  3. Systemic disease
    1. Bone Marrow Aspirate
    2. Sputum

VII. Management

  1. Progressive, refractory, or severe disease or Central Nervous System involvement
    1. Amphotericin B 0.5-0.6 mg/kg (max 2.0 - 2.5 g) daily until stable
    2. After Amphotericin B IV course, transition to oral Itraconazole for 12 months
  2. Indolent disease (mild to moderate cases)
    1. Adults: Itraconazole 200 mg orally daily for 6 months
    2. Children and Pregnant women: Amphotericin B at dosing above

VIII. Course

  1. Incubation: 30-45 days

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Related Studies

Ontology: Blastomycosis (C0005716)

Definition (NCI) A fungal infection caused by inhalation of spores of Blastomyces dermatitidis. It presents with flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, cough, pleuritic chest pain and myalgias. It may lead to a chronic granulomatous pulmonary infection and disseminate to other anatomic sites including skin, nervous system and bones.
Definition (CSP) infection caused by fungi of the genus Blastomyces.
Definition (MSH) A fungal infection that may appear in two forms: 1, a primary lesion characterized by the formation of a small cutaneous nodule and small nodules along the lymphatics that may heal within several months; and 2, chronic granulomatous lesions characterized by thick crusts, warty growths, and unusual vascularity and infection in the middle or upper lobes of the lung.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D001759
ICD9 116.0, 116
ICD10 B40 , B40.9
SnomedCT 187484004, 187071002, 266217003, 154402000, 187075006, 187064007, 69996000, 191950004, 10673008
LNC LA10436-6
English Blastomycoses, Blastomycosis NOS, Blastomycosis, unspecified, Blastomycotic infection NOS, [X]Blastomycosis, unspecified, blastomycosis, blastomycosis (diagnosis), Blastomyces dermatitidis infection, Blastomyces infections, Blastomycosis [Disease/Finding], blastomycoses, [X]Blastomycosis, unspecified (disorder), Blastomycotic infection NOS (disorder), Blastomycosis NOS (disorder), Blastomycotic infection, Infection by Blastomyces dermatitidis, Infection by Blastomyces dermatitidis (disorder), Infection by Blastomyces, Blastomycosis (disorder), Blastomyces; infection, infection; Blastomyces, blastomycotic, dermatitidis, infection; Blastomyces, Blastomycosis, NOS, Blastomycotic infection, NOS, Infection by Blastomyces, NOS, Blastomyces Dermatitidis Infection, Blastomycosis
Italian Infezioni da blastomiceti, Infezione blastomicotica, Infezione da blastomyces dermatitidis, Blastomicosi
Dutch Blastomyces dermatitidis-infectie, Blastomyces; infectie, infectie; Blastomyces, blastomycotisch, dermatitidis, infectie; Blastomyces, Blastomycose, niet gespecificeerd, Blastomyces-infecties, blastomycose, Blastomycose, Mycose, blasto-
French Infection à Blastomyces dermatitidis, Infection blastomycotique, Infections à Blastomycètes, Blastomycose
German Blastomyces dermatitidis-Infektion, Blastomyces-Infektion, Blastomykose, nicht naeher bezeichnet, Blastomyces-Infektionen, Blastomykose
Portuguese Infecção blastomicótica, Infecção por Blastomyces dermatitidis, Infecções a Blastomyces, Blastomicose
Spanish Infección blastomicótica, Infección por Blastomyces dermatitidis, infección por Blastomyces dermatitidis (trastorno), infección causada por dematiditis Blastomyces (trastorno), infección causada por dematiditis Blastomyces, infección por Blastomyces dermatitidis, infección blastomicótica, SAI (trastorno), [X]blastomicosis, no especificada (trastorno), infección blastomicótica, SAI, blastomicosis, SAI, blastomicosis, SAI (trastorno), [X]blastomicosis, no especificada, blastomicosis (trastorno), blastomicosis, infección blastomicótica, infección por Blastomyces, Infecciones por blastomyces, Blastomicosis
Japanese ブラストミセス感染, ブラストミセス・デルマチチジス感染, ブラストミセスショウ, ブラストミセスデルマチチジスカンセン, ブラストミセスカンセン, ブラストミセス症-北アメリカ, 北アメリカブラストミセス症, ブラストミセス症
Swedish Blastomykos
Czech blastomykóza, Infekce Blastomyces dermatitidis, Blastomykóza, Blastomykotická infekce, Infekce blastomycetami
Finnish Blastomykoosi
Russian BLASTOMIKOZ, BLASTOMIKOZ SEVEROAMERIKANSKII, GILKRISTA BLASTOMIKOZ, БЛАСТОМИКОЗ, БЛАСТОМИКОЗ СЕВЕРОАМЕРИКАНСКИЙ, ГИЛКРИСТА БЛАСТОМИКОЗ
Korean 상세불명의 분아균증, 분아균증
Croatian BLASTOMIKOZA
Polish Drożdżyca północnoamerykańska, Choroba Gildchrista, Blastomikoza, Zakażenie Blastomyces
Hungarian Blastomycoticus fertőzés, blastomycosis, Blastomyces dermatitidis fertőzés, Blastomyces fertőzések