Blastomycosis

Last Updated: 2020-08-11

Author(s): Anzengruber F., Navarini A.

ICD11: 1F22

Gilchrist 1894-96 (depending on source).

North American blastomycosis, Chicago disease, Gilchrist's disease.

System mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus, Blastomyces dermatitids.

  • America (whole continent), parts of Africa.
  • Mainly adult men are affected.

  • Pathogen: Blastomyces dermatitidis
  • The pathogen is in the ground. Pulmonary inoculation occurs through the air. Hematogenous scattering leads to the involvement of other organs (skin, prostate, bones)

Curved, erythematous, partly ulcerating, partly crusty papules, papulopustules and nodi. Black, punctiform papillary vessels and peripheral miliary abscesses are centrally located.

  • Clinical features
  • Detection of pathogens by myco-smear and biopsy

Hands, feet, face and trunk.

  1. Bialek R, Gonzalez GM, Begerow D, Zelck UE. Coccidioidomycosis and blastomycosis: Advances in molecular diagnosis. FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology 2005;45:355-60.
  2. Bonifaz A, Carrasco-Gerard E, Saul A. Chromoblastomycosis: clinical and mycologic experience of 51 cases. Mycoses 2001;44:1-7.
  3. Bonifaz A, Saúl A, Paredes‐Solis V, Araiza J, Fierro‐Arias L. Treatment of chromoblastomycosis with terbinafine: Experience with four cases. Journal of Dermatological Treatment 2005;16:47-51.
  4. Bradsher RW, Chapman SW, Pappas PG. Blastomycosis. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America 2003;17:21-40.
  5. Chapman SW, Bradsher RW, Campbell GD, Pappas PG, Kauffman CA. Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients with Blastomycosis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2000;30:679-83.
  6. Elgart GW. CHROMOBLASTOMYCOSIS. Dermatologic Clinics 1996;14:77-83.
  7. Maioriello RP. North American Blastomycosis Presenting as an Acute Panniculitis and Arthritis. Arch Dermatol 1970;102:92.
  8. Panicker J, Walsh T, Kamani N. RECURRENT CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM BLASTOMYCOSIS IN AN IMMUNOCOMPETENT CHILD TREATED SUCCESSFULLY WITH SEQUENTIAL LIPOSOMAL AMPHOTERICIN B AND VORICONAZOLE. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 2006;25:377-9.
  9. Sugar AM, Liu XP. Efficacy of Voriconazole in Treatment of Murine Pulmonary Blastomycosis. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 2001;45:601-4.
  10. Tuffanelli L, Milburn PB. Treatment of chromoblastomycosis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1990;23:728-32.
  11. Wortman PD. Concurrent chromoblastomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi and actinomycetoma caused by Nocardia brasiliensis. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 1995;32:390-2.
  12. Yu R. Successful treatment of chromoblastomycosis with itraconazole. Mycoses 1995;38:79-83.