This case most likely represents histoplasma capsulatum, which is a dimorphic fungus most commonly found in mid USA near the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. We don't see this very often in Canada, mostly in travelers from endemic regions. People get infected with histoplasmosis via inhalation of the fungal spores into the lungs, which then gets disseminated to the body. Most healthy and immunocompetent individuals do not get symptoms. People with HIV/AIDS or some form of immunideficiency can get severe disseminated disease, often presenting with cough, pneumonia, fever, pancytopenia (low white blood count, low hemoglobin, and low platelets), which later develops into septic shock, DIC, and multi-organ failure, which is what eventually claimed the life of this unfortunate young man. I can only suspect that this is the infection responsible for this man's death based on the limited description of his illness from the above article. It seems like St. Michael's Hospitak had indeed diagnosed him with a fungal infection and treated him appropriately, including resuscitation in the ICU. Until we know what his medical history and whether or not he has an undiagnosed immune deficiency (I.e. HIV), it would not be fair to lay all the blame on the medical system.
janie 发表于 2012-7-30 23:48
This case most likely represents histoplasma capsulatum, which is a dimorphic fungus most commonly found in mid USA near the Ohio and Mississippi river valleys. We don't see this very often in Canada, mostly in travelers from endemic regions. People get infected with histoplasmosis via inhalation of the fungal spores into the lungs, which then gets disseminated to the body. Most healthy and immunocompetent individuals do not get symptoms. People with HIV/AIDS or some form of immunideficiency can get severe disseminated disease, often presenting with cough, pneumonia, fever, pancytopenia (low white blood count, low hemoglobin, and low platelets), which later develops into septic shock, DIC, and multi-organ failure, which is what eventually claimed the life of this unfortunate young man. I can only suspect that this is the infection responsible for this man's death based on the limited description of his illness from the above article. It seems like St. Michael's Hospitak had indeed diagnosed him with a fungal infection and treated him appropriately, including resuscitation in the ICU. Until we know what his medical history and whether or not he has an undiagnosed immune deficiency (I.e. HIV), it would not be fair to lay all the blame on the medical system.
janie 发表于 2012-7-30 23:48