• M-O Chandesris, A Hot, E Dannaoui, M-E Bougnoux, J-P Viard, B Dupont, and O Lortholary.
• Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, faculté de médecine, Paris-5, centre d'infectiologie Necker-Pasteur, hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75743 Paris cedex, France.
• Med Mal Infect. 2008 Jun 1; 38 (6): 336-42.

AbstractCoccidioidomycosis is an endemic mycosis in the southwest of United States resulting from the inhalation of arthrospores present in desert soil. The authors present a case of uncomplicated pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a healthy woman, acquired during a recent trip to California. The initial clinical presentation first suggested a diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia, then of tuberculosis. The diagnosis was finally reached with blood tests and mycological culture of broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. The final identification of Coccidioides immitis was made by molecular analysis. Clinical resolution of the infection was obtained after three months of posaconazole treatment. Coccidioidomycosis is a major cause of pneumonia. Its diagnosis requires specific investigation such as mycological culture, histology, blood tests and molecular biology helps to identify the species. The progression of the disease as well as the associated immunocellular deficit are strictly correlated with the onset of complications and late relapses despite an adequate initial treatment using antifungal molecules and/or surgery.

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