A 48-year-old guy visits his doctor with a 6-month history of coughing and exhaustion. He has also noticed fatigue and weight loss. He has no recollection of any ill encounters. The patient works as a carpenter. He smokes one pack of cigarettes every day. The temperature is 37.1 degrees Celsius (98.8 F). The left lower lobe crackles upon examination. HIV testing came back negative. A pulmonary infiltration in the lower lobe of the left lung is shown by a chest x-ray. The following are the results of sputum potassium hydroxide preparation. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

Question

A 48-year-old guy visits his doctor with a 6-month history of coughing and exhaustion. He has also noticed fatigue and weight loss. He has no recollection of any ill encounters. The patient works as a carpenter. He smokes one pack of cigarettes every day. The temperature is 37.1 degrees Celsius (98.8 F). The left lower lobe crackles upon examination. HIV testing came back negative. A pulmonary infiltration in the lower lobe of the left lung is shown by a chest x-ray. The following are the results of sputum potassium hydroxide preparation.  Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's condition?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungus that appears in tissue as round or oval yeasts with thick walls and widespread budding. It's only found in the southeastern United States (states east of the Mississippi River). The predominant site of involvement is the lungs, while the skin and bone are the principal sites of dissemination.

A 48-Year-Old Guy Visits His Doctor with a 6-Month History