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Two Cases of Recovery of Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungi via Conventional BacT/ALERT® Microbial Detection System Media

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Abstract

We hereby report two instances of dimorphic fungus cultivation in BacT/ALERT®-based bacteriologic media, with the first such characterization of Blastomyces dermatitidis. From a patient with disseminated coccidioidomycosis, routine blood cultures incubated on the MB/BacT® 3D™ Microbial Detection System generated a positive signal following 75 h of incubation. B. dermatitidis was isolated from a patient hospitalized with a four-week course of respiratory illness. Organism detection from respiratory specimens via the MB/BacT® 3D™ Mycobacteria Detection System occurred 5 days sooner than the routine fungus culture. Etiologic agents of endemic mycoses may be isolated in bacteriologic media employed by continuous monitoring instrumentation.

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Acknowledgment

We express sincere appreciation to Gerald A. Hanson, M.D., for critical review of the manuscript.

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Author notes

  1. Tina Endes

    Present address: Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group, Franklin, WI, 53132, USA

  2. Katharine Vaughan

    Present address: Advanced Healthcare, SC, Menomonee Falls, WI, 53051, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wheaton Franciscan and Midwest Clinical Laboratories, 11020 West Plank Court, Suite 100, Wauwatosa, WI, 53226, USA

    Erik Munson, Tina Endes, Katharine Vaughan, Timothy Block & Jeanne E. Hryciuk

  2. College of Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA

    Erik Munson

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  1. Erik Munson
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  2. Tina Endes
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Correspondence to Erik Munson.

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Munson, E., Endes, T., Vaughan, K. et al. Two Cases of Recovery of Dimorphic Pathogenic Fungi via Conventional BacT/ALERT® Microbial Detection System Media. Mycopathologia 167, 191–195 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9168-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-008-9168-2

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