Clinical Testing Guidance for Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis, and Blastomycosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia for Primary and Urgent Care Providers

Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Jun 14;78(6):1559-1563. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciad619.

Abstract

Coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis are underrecognized and frequently misdiagnosed fungal infections that can clinically resemble bacterial and viral community-acquired pneumonia. This guidance is intended to help outpatient clinicians test for these fungal diseases in patients with community-acquired pneumonia to reduce misdiagnoses, unnecessary antibacterial use, and poor outcomes.

Keywords: blastomycosis; coccidioidomycosis; community-acquired pneumonia; diagnostic algorithms; histoplasmosis.

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care
  • Blastomycosis* / diagnosis
  • Blastomycosis* / drug therapy
  • Coccidioidomycosis* / diagnosis
  • Coccidioidomycosis* / drug therapy
  • Community-Acquired Infections* / diagnosis
  • Community-Acquired Infections* / microbiology
  • Histoplasmosis* / diagnosis
  • Histoplasmosis* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Pneumonia* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia* / microbiology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Primary Health Care