DISSEMINATED BLASTOMYCOSIS FOLLOWING COVID-19 INFECTION

ABSTRACT

SESSION TITLE Severe and Unusual Blastomycosis Infections SESSION TYPE Rapid Fire Case Reports PRESENTED ON 10/18/2022 1225 pm - 0125 pm INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of blastomycosis is often delayed due to its non-specific symptoms and imaging findings. Clinicians must have a high clinical index of suspicion to diagnose blastomycosis in a timely manner, especially in the setting of the current COVID-19 pandemic. CASE PRESENTATION A healthy 44-year-old male presented to an urgent care center with complaints of cough, fevers, and malaise. CT scan of the chest revealed a left upper lobe mass concerning for rounded bacterial pneumonia versus malignancy. He was found to be COVID-19 positive. The patient was sent home with steroids and antibiotics. Three months later, a repeat CT scan of the chest was obtained which revealed progression of the consolidation and prompted further evaluation at the hospital. On presentation, he reported a persistent cough, weight loss, and the development of multiple painful nodules on his extremities and trunk within the past week. A skin lesion was biopsied. A bronchoscopy was also performed for biopsy and brushing. Biopsy of the skin lesion as well as specimens collected from the bronchoscopy resulted positive for Blastomyces. MRI of the brain demonstrated multiple enhancing lesions concerning for septic emboli. He was started on amphotericin B for treatment of disseminated blastomycosis with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Repeat imaging of the brain and chest about 3 weeks after initiation of therapy showed interval decrease in the size of the lesions. He was then transitioned to oral itraconazole and discharged home. DISCUSSION: Blastomycosis is an endemic fungal infection that can affect immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. It tends to infect immunocompetent hosts more so than other invasive fungal infections. Symptoms can range from asymptomatic to rapidly progressive acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Disseminated blastomycosis has been reported in 20-50% of patients (1). In the above case, an immunocompetent patient developed pulmonary and dermatologic manifestations concerning for disseminated blastomycosis. Though he had no recent travel, occupational exposures, or contact with any construction work, the patient was living in an endemic area for Blastomyces. It is difficult to definitively ascertain if the patient already had pulmonary blastomycosis when he was diagnosed with COVID-19, but his extrapulmonary manifestations clearly developed after the diagnosis. Earlier detection and treatment of the pulmonary blastomycosis may have prevented the dissemination of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: This case serves as a reminder to consider other infectious etiologies, like endemic fungal infections, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent delays in treatment and progression of these diseases. Reference #1 McBride JA, Gauthier GM, Klein BS. Clinical Manifestations and Treatment of Blastomycosis. Clin Chest Med. 2017 Sep;38(3)435-449. doi 10.1016/j.ccm.2017.04.006. Epub 2017 Jun 12. PMID 28797487;PMCID PMC5657236. Reference #2 Cafardi J, Haas D, Lamarre T, Feinberg J. Opportunistic Fungal Infection Associated With COVID-19. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 Jan 18;8(7)ofab016. doi 10.1093/ofid/ofab016. PMID 34621913;PMCID PMC7928619. DISCLOSURES No relevant relationships by Shannon Burke No relevant relationships by Abigail Go No relevant relationships by Jen Minoff No relevant relationships by David Stoeckel