Research Topic: histoplasmosis

Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

mycolabadmin

This case describes a woman with advanced HIV who developed a serious fungal infection called histoplasmosis affecting her skin, lungs, and lymph nodes. Diagnosis was challenging because standard fungal blood tests came back negative, but careful examination of samples and specialized testing confirmed Histoplasma capsulatum. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medications, highlighting the importance of not relying solely on negative tests when clinical suspicion is high.

Read More »

Mapping Histoplasma spp. in bats and cave ecosystems: evidence from midwestern Brazil

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied caves in Brazil to find where a fungus called Histoplasma that causes histoplasmosis disease is located. They tested soil from caves and tested bats that live in these caves. They found the fungus in about 20% of cave soil samples and in one-third of the bats tested. Multiple bat species were carriers of the fungus, and researchers even found it in bat brains for the first time.

Read More »

A case report of disseminated histoplasmosis not responding to primary treatment by itraconazole

mycolabadmin

A 28-year-old woman developed a serious fungal infection (histoplasmosis) after dental surgery that was initially misdiagnosed as a bacterial infection. Although she was treated with an antifungal medication called itraconazole, her condition worsened with larger lung lesions appearing. When switched to a stronger intravenous antifungal called liposomal amphotericin B, she rapidly improved and fully recovered, demonstrating the importance of adjusting treatment when patients don’t respond as expected.

Read More »

Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

mycolabadmin

A woman with advanced HIV infection presented with skin sores and respiratory symptoms that were initially suspected to be a viral infection. Testing revealed she had histoplasmosis, a serious fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum that had spread throughout her body affecting her skin, lungs, and lymph nodes. While standard tests for this fungus were negative, other fungal markers and cultures eventually confirmed the diagnosis, and she was treated with antifungal medications.

Read More »

Histoplasma capsulatum as a cause for prolonged pulmonary illness in an immunocompetent returning traveller from Bangladesh

mycolabadmin

A 57-year-old man returning from Bangladesh developed a severe lung infection that lasted several weeks and required hospitalization with breathing support. Doctors initially thought he had tuberculosis or bacterial pneumonia, but standard tests came back negative. Advanced fungal testing eventually identified the cause as histoplasmosis, a fungal infection he likely caught while supervising construction work. After treatment with antifungal medications, the patient recovered and was discharged to continue medication at home for a year.

Read More »

Chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis treated with isavuconazole after a hypersensitivity reaction to itraconazole

mycolabadmin

A 68-year-old patient with a serious lung infection caused by Histoplasma fungus initially developed an allergic skin reaction to the standard medication itraconazole. Unable to use the typical treatment, doctors switched him to a newer antifungal drug called isavuconazole using a carefully controlled graded dose approach. The patient successfully tolerated the new medication and achieved complete resolution of his infection with sustained improvement, suggesting isavuconazole could be a viable alternative for similar patients.

Read More »

Usefulness of Serum as a Non-Invasive Sample for the Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum Infections: Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Different Diagnostic Techniques and Quantification of Host Biomarkers

mycolabadmin

This study evaluated how well different blood tests can detect histoplasmosis, a serious fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. Researchers compared three types of tests: those detecting fungal antigens, those detecting antibodies the body produces against the fungus, and DNA-based tests. They found that the best test depends on whether the patient’s immune system is functioning normally or is weakened by HIV, and using a combination of tests provides the most reliable diagnosis. The study also identified specific immune markers in the blood that are elevated in infected patients, which could help predict disease severity.

Read More »
Scroll to Top