A new article published in StatPearls [Internet] blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by the organism Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic in Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, Great Lakes region and the southeastern United States. It most commonly presents as a pulmonary infection following the inhalation of spores, which may be asymptomatic andundetectable—though severe, life-threatening complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) can occur.

The authors reported that extrapulmonary disease occurs in approximately 25-30% of patients after hematogenousdissemination from the lungswith the skin being the most common site ofextrapulmonary disease.

The article summarized that primary cutaneous blastomycosis, although rare, can occur due to direct inoculation after trauma to the skin. Unlike other deep fungal infections that occur predominantly in immunocompromised patients, blastomycosis also occurs in immunocompetent hosts.

Source: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan.2020 Jun 29.