title: Diagnostic Delay and Antibiotic Overuse in Acute Pulmonary Blastomycosis.
abstract: The diagnosis of blastomycosis is often delayed. We identified 28 cases of pulmonary blastomycosis in a retrospective chart review. Most patients received multiple antibiotic courses before being diagnosed, and the sputum KOH smear was rarely used. Diagnostic delay can be decreased with higher suspicion for pulmonary blastomycosis and early use of the sputum KOH smear.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine, Department of Medicine,University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Medicine, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Alpern
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine, Department of Medicine,University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Kansas.
authors.forename: Nathan C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Bahr
authors.affiliation: HealthPartners Institute for Education and Research , Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vazquez-Benitez
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease & International Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Boulware
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine , Regions Hospital , St. Paul, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Jonathan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sellman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Medicine, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, USA.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sarosi
keywords: antibiotic overuse; diagnostic delay; fungal infection; pulmonary blastomycosis