General Medical Information

Blastomycosis

Mark C. Littlejohn
Byron J. Bailey
John K. Yoo

The causative organism of blastomycosis is Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is contracted by airborne transmission. Manifestations may range from the patient being asymptomatic to having acute pneumonitis with disseminated infection involving the skin, bones, and genitourinary system. Lesions exhibit proliferative verrucous growth with scarring. A common triad consists of cutaneous disease, pulmonary involvement, and constitutional symptoms. Oropharyngeal and laryngeal involvement is much less common than in histoplasmosis. Diagnosis is confirmed by sputum culture on Sabouraud medium and by microscopic examination of skin scrapings. Amphotericin B is the treatment of choice.