Twenty three case-patients had a positive culture for blastomycosis : 12 (52 %) from sputum, 8 (35 %) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, 2 (9 %) from skin lesion and 1 (4 %) from lung tissue.
Symptoms may include breathlessness, purulent sputum and increased sputum volume.
An increase in sputum production was more often reported (88.9 %) than sputum purulence (75.6 %).
Thirty-seven patients produced sputum samples with >25 leukocytes and <10 epithelial cells that grew potentially harmful bacteria.
On route, she complained of dyspnea and vomited pink frothy sputum several times.
Such an infection could damage the bronchi and result in blood in the sputum.
Diagnosis was established by the isolation of the organism in blood, sputum or bronchial wash and response to treatment.
In general, 24 (27.3 %) and 53 (60.2 %) used the liquid culture for sputum and lymph nodes respectively.
