Battling the breath-stealers: Blastomyces and Pseudomonas triggering acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Abstract

Blastomycosis is an endemic disease in North America and commonly manifests with pulmonary symptoms. Blastomycosis should be consider when patients have persistent infiltrates on imaging in an endemic area. We present a case of a 46-year-old male who presented to the pulmonary clinic with fever, cough with production of yellowish-green sputum and culture of BAL-fluid showed growth of Pseudomonas spp. Antimicrobial therapy was started accordingly, but was not effective. A repeat bronchoscopy was performed and BAL-fluid culture was positive for Blastomyces dermatitidis and liposomal amphotericin B was initiated. Unfortunately, the patient died after withdrawing care.

Keywords

• Blastomycosis
• Pseudomonas
• Cavitary lung lesion
• ARDS
• Amphotericin B