title: Pulmonary blastomycosis with acute respiratory failure as predominant clinical feature.
abstract: Two previously healthy young adults came to our community hospital with rapidly progressive respiratory failure. Investigation confirmed Blastomyces as the responsible etiologic agent. Despite adequate antifungal chemotherapy and intensive supportive care, both patients died, one within 24 hours and the other after 14 days. Overwhelming infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis can cause acute respiratory failure, possibly the adult respiratory distress syndrome, even in immunocompetent hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37614-0622, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mukkamala
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cole
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000150:complications*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*