1/37. The first imported case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in korea.Coccidioidomycosis is an endemic disease found in the southwestern part of North America. Travellers who visit the endemic area may carry the infection. We report a case of pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a 74-year-old woman. She was healthy before visiting arizona, U.S.A twice. After returning home, she began to complain of intermittent dry coughing. The symptom was mild, however, and she was treated symptomatically. Later a chest radiograph, which was taken 4 years after the onset of the symptom, showed a solitary pulmonary nodule in the right upper lobe. By percutaneous needle aspiration, a few clusters of atypical cells were noted in the necrotic background. A right upper and middle lobectomy was done. A 1.5 x 1.5 x 1.2 cm sized tan nodule was present in otherwise normal lung parenchyma. Microscopically, the nodule consisted of aggregates of multiple solid granulomas inside of which was mostly necrotic. neutrophils and nuclear debris were scattered along the periphery of the necrotic foci. Numerous multinucleated giant cells were associated with the granulomas. In the necrotic area, mature spherules of Coccidioides immitis, which were 30-100 microm in diameter, were present. They contained numerous endospores which ranged from 5 to 15 microm and were also noted in multinucleated giant cells. The diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis was made. She is doing well after the resection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/37. hypercalcemia associated with infection by cryptococcus neoformans and Coccidioides immitis.BACKGROUND: Of the 13 reported cases of hypercalcemia associated with fungal infection, 1 was caused by cryptococcus neoformans and probably mediated by increased levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. Eight others were associated with Coccidioides immitis, of which only 2 had measured 1,25(OH)2D levels; in both, they were diminished. We report a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection and simultaneous C. immitis and C. neoformans pneumonia and C. immitis fungemia associated with hypercalcemia. methods: Consecutive measurements of serum total and ionized calcium, phosphorous, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)2D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrp) and albumin were performed over a period of 46 months. RESULTS: While the patient was hypercalcemic, intact serum PTH and PTHrp were undetectable, serum 25(OH)D levels were normal, and serum 1,25(OH)2D levels were in the high normal range. Successful treatment of the C. immitis and C. neoformans infections resulted in resolution of the hypercalcemia and increase of PTH and PTHrp to the normal range. CONCLUSION: In some patients with hiv infection, coincident hypercalcemia, and severe fungal infection, the responsible factor may be 1,25(OH)2D. Although total serum levels of this compound may not be frankly elevated, they are inappropriately high for the circumstances. Free 1,25(OH)2D levels should be determined in this situation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 8keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/37. Multi-organ failure caused by reactivated coccidioidomycosis without dissemination in a patient with renal transplantation.OBJECTIVE: The acute respiratory failure caused by pulmonary coccidioidomycosis without dissemination is an extremely unusual event. CASE REPORT: We report a 47-year-old renal transplanted man with a reactivated pulmonary coccidioidomycosis, whose clinical course presented as fulminant respiratory failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation and profound hypotension mimicking bacterial pneumonia and septic shock. lung biopsy showed conglomerated necrotizing granulomas containing many spherules filled with endospores of Coccidioides immitis. CONCLUSION: Coccidioidomycosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute sepsis, particularly in an immunocompromised host who has travelled in an endemic area.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/37. Coccidioidomycosis in compromised hosts. Experience at Stanford University Hospital.To determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of infection with Coccidioides immitis in immunosuppressed patients at Stanford University Hospital, clinical records of 14 years were examined. Thirteen cases met the diagnostic criteria. Half had Hodgkin's disease. In six the infection was disseminated; five of the six died early in the course of their infectious illness, frequently without diagnosis. Conclusions include: 1. The occurrence of coccidioidomycosis in immunosuppressed patients seen at institutions in or adjacent to the endemic area is not as rare as the literature suggests. 2. Dissemination is frequently explosive and the radiographic appearance of pulmonary involvement may appear late. Widespread pulmonary dissemination may occur within 24 hours after a negative x-ray. 3. Although the skin test loses its diagnostic value, the serology remains valid. Thus immunosuppressed patients with febrile illnesses (with or without radiographically evident pulmonary involvement) who have a history of travel to an endemic area should have serological examinations. 4. Lymphocytopenia correlates with risk of dissemination of coccidioidomycosis. 5. The administration of immunsuppressive chemotherapy correlates with such risk while radiotherapy and the malignant or non-malignant nature of the disease do not.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/37. Investigation of an outbreak of endemic coccidioidomycosis in brazil's northeastern state of Piaui with a review of the occurrence and distribution of Coccidioides immitis in three other Brazilian states.An outbreak of coccidioidomycosis is described that involved three individuals and eight of their dogs, who had engaged in a successful hunt for nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the environs of Oeiras, a community in brazil's north eastern state of Piaui. Diagnosis was based on clinical, serological and cultural findings. Four of 24 soil samples collected in and around the burrow of an armadillo yielded cultures of Coccidioides immitis, thus establishing the endemicity of that mould in the state of Piaui. A literature review revealed that C. immitis, aside from that state, is endemic in three other Brazilian states--Bahia, Ceara and Maranhao. These four contiguous states have semi-arid regions where climatic conditions and their flora are similar to those that exist in C. immitis's endemic regions in North, Central and south america.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/37. Coccidioidomycosis in non-endemic areas: a case series.Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic infection caused by the soil fungus Coccidioides immitis, which is endemic to the south-western united states. Manifestations range from flu-like illness to pneumonia and septic shock. Diagnosis may be delayed or missed in non-endemic areas because of the low index of suspicion. We describe a series of 23 patients with coccidioidomycosis at one institution in a non-endemic area. Diagnosis was often delayed. In two patients, the route of exposure could not be determined, but 20 patients had a history of residence or travel to endemic areas, and the remaining patient had an occupational history of exposure to fomites from an endemic region. Five patients were immunosuppressed. Most patients responded well to medical therapy, surgery, or both. Although coccidioidomycosis is rare in non-endemic areas, physicians must keep it in mind when evaluating patients who have traveled to endemic areas or who are immunosuppressed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/37. Coccidioides immitis in the gallbladder and biliary tree.Intraabdominal coccidioidomycosis is a very rare entity and usually responds to medical therapy. Operative intervention is reserved for diagnosis or drainage of localized collections. With biliary coccidioidomycosis, medical treatment appears to be ineffective, and biliary tract drainage is necessary for optimal management. A case of coccidioidomycosis in the gallbladder and biliary tree is described and the literature reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/37. Coccidioides immitis. A rare cause of pulmonary mycetoma.Coccidioides immitis occurring as a fungus ball within a chronic pulmonary cavity has previously been reported twice and must be rare. We report a mycetoma composed of both spherule and mycelial forms of Coccidioides immitis, proved by culture and histologic sections. Fungus ball due to Coccidioides immitis is a logical progression from mycelia seen in the cavity wall in the active pulmonary coccidioidal lung cavity.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 7keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/37. Acquisition of coccidioidomycosis at necropsy by inhalation of coccidioidal endospores.Coccidioidomycosis is accepted as being noncontagious because the infectious arthroconidial form of Coccidioides immitis is not produced in humans and other mammalian hosts. However, disseminated coccidioidomycosis developed in a veterinarian who autopsied a horse with disseminated disease but without draining lesions or productive cough. We postulate transmission occurred by inhalation of tissue-phase endospores aerosolized in the course of dissection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = immitis (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/37. oral manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis. Report of 21 cases from argentina.The present study describes 21 Argentinian patients living in the province of Corrientes, who had developed oral manifestations due to paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection. Of these, 20 patients were men and one a woman. patients were of an average age of 39 years (range 25 to 72 years). Approximately, 76.2% of the patients were farmers. Gingival lesions were observed in 76%. Also, the tongue (71%) and the lips (62%) were frequently affected. Cytological smears and histopathology showed the characteristic fungal cells with the characteristic granulomatous inflammatory reaction consisting of lymphocytes, epithelioid cells and giant cells of the Langhans type. All patients except one had detectable pulmonary involvement. Therapy consists of long-term administration of itraconazole. oral manifestations of paracoccidioidomycosis are characteristic in their clinical presentation. early diagnosis and adequate therapy may prevent extensive tissue destructions. Long-term follow-up is mandatory.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 54.936320743677keywords = coccidioides (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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