IPLab:Lab 10:Blastomycosis

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Clinical Summary[edit]

About three weeks before his death, this 17-year-old white male developed a "chest cold" which gradually worsened. The patient was eventually admitted three days before his death. At that time, the patient was very dyspneic. Chest x-ray showed consolidation of the entire left lung. The initial impression by his care team was staphylococcal pneumonia. However, Blastomyces dermatitides was identified in stained smears of sputum the next day. In spite of appropriate antifungal therapy, the patient deteriorated rapidly and died.

Autopsy Findings[edit]

Autopsy confirmed that the entire left lung was semi-solid.

Images[edit]

In alcoholics, aspiration pneumonia is common--bacteria enter the lung via aspiration of gastric contents.