Sunday, December 21, 2014

Blastomycsis presenting as necrotizing pneumonia

Here is an abstract presentation at SHM 2014 describing such a case, serving as a reminder that:

Blasto is a great mimicker and can present as a variety of forms of pneumonia.

It is not a strict opportunist and can cause disease in immunocompetent patients.

It can present as ARDS.

In today's time constrained, performance driven world over diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia is increasingly recognized. As a hospitalist you are likely to be handed “pneumonia patients” who do not have pneumonia at all, but rather have non-infectious parenchymal lung disease or an unusual infection. It is worthwhile to take a diagnostic time out when you encounter such patients.

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