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Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis to the Gallbladder
Kulraj Grewal1, Tushar Bajaj1, Greti Petersen1
1UCLA-Kern Medical, Bakersfield, CA, USA.
Abstract:
Coccidioidomycosis is an infection caused by inhalation of arthroconidia produced by dimorphic fungi in the genus Coccidioides. Forty percent of patients will develop an influenza-like illness with symptoms suggestive of a mild and self-limited respiratory infection; however, 5% of these individuals will develop extrapulmonary disseminated disease. An immunocompromised patient presented with right upper quadrant pain, ultrasound with pericholecystic fluid, in which a percutaneous cholecystostomy contained biliary fluid that grew the fungus Coccidioides immitis. Patient was initiated on intravenous amphotericin therapy and was followed closely with postoperative bile drainage with eventual laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We present a very rare case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis to the gallbladder.
Insights
Coccidioidomycosis, a fungal infection, can disseminate to organs like the gallbladder, even in immunocompromised individuals. This case highlights a rare gallbladder infection caused by Coccidioides immitis.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection endemic to arid regions of the Americas.
- Inhalation of arthroconidia from Coccidioides fungi causes the infection.
- While often self-limiting respiratory illness, 5% of cases disseminate to extrapulmonary sites.
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