Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018
Blastomycosis is a systemic disease caused by Blastomyces spp. fungi. To determine its epidemiology in blastomycosis-endemic Minnesota, USA, we evaluated all cases reported to public health officials during 1999–2018. We focused on time to diagnosis, exposure activities, and exposure location. A tot...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-1074_article |
| _version_ | 1818266514276483072 |
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| author | Malia Ireland Carrie Klumb Kirk Smith Joni Scheftel |
| author_facet | Malia Ireland Carrie Klumb Kirk Smith Joni Scheftel |
| author_sort | Malia Ireland |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Blastomycosis is a systemic disease caused by Blastomyces spp. fungi. To determine its epidemiology in blastomycosis-endemic Minnesota, USA, we evaluated all cases reported to public health officials during 1999–2018. We focused on time to diagnosis, exposure activities, and exposure location. A total of 671 cases and a median of 34 cases/year were reported. Median time to diagnosis was 31 days; 61% of patients were not tested for blastomycosis until they were hospitalized. The case-fatality rate was 10%, and patients who died were 5.3 times more likely to have a concurrent medical condition. Outdoor activities and soil exposure were reported by many patients, but no specific activity or exposure was common to most. Almost one third of patients were probably exposed in geographic areas other than their home county. Providers should consider alternative etiologies for patients with pneumonia not responding to antibacterial treatment, and public health officials should increase awareness in blastomycosis-endemic areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:07:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efae83c7b3544c0faa6b94db50e1f9b1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1080-6040 1080-6059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T20:07:55Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Emerging Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-efae83c7b3544c0faa6b94db50e1f9b12022-12-22T00:13:36ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-60592020-05-0126586687510.3201/eid2605.191074Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018Malia IrelandCarrie KlumbKirk SmithJoni ScheftelBlastomycosis is a systemic disease caused by Blastomyces spp. fungi. To determine its epidemiology in blastomycosis-endemic Minnesota, USA, we evaluated all cases reported to public health officials during 1999–2018. We focused on time to diagnosis, exposure activities, and exposure location. A total of 671 cases and a median of 34 cases/year were reported. Median time to diagnosis was 31 days; 61% of patients were not tested for blastomycosis until they were hospitalized. The case-fatality rate was 10%, and patients who died were 5.3 times more likely to have a concurrent medical condition. Outdoor activities and soil exposure were reported by many patients, but no specific activity or exposure was common to most. Almost one third of patients were probably exposed in geographic areas other than their home county. Providers should consider alternative etiologies for patients with pneumonia not responding to antibacterial treatment, and public health officials should increase awareness in blastomycosis-endemic areas.https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-1074_articleBlastomycesblastomycosisfungiepidemiologyinhalation exposuretreatment outcome |
| spellingShingle | Malia Ireland Carrie Klumb Kirk Smith Joni Scheftel Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018 Emerging Infectious Diseases Blastomyces blastomycosis fungi epidemiology inhalation exposure treatment outcome |
| title | Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018 |
| title_full | Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018 |
| title_fullStr | Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018 |
| title_short | Blastomycosis in Minnesota, USA, 1999–2018 |
| title_sort | blastomycosis in minnesota usa 1999 2018 |
| topic | Blastomyces blastomycosis fungi epidemiology inhalation exposure treatment outcome |
| url | https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-1074_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT maliaireland blastomycosisinminnesotausa19992018 AT carrieklumb blastomycosisinminnesotausa19992018 AT kirksmith blastomycosisinminnesotausa19992018 AT jonischeftel blastomycosisinminnesotausa19992018 |