Pulmonary coccidioidomycosis complicated by nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary diseases with a literature review

Abstract

Following endobronchial examination, a young mine supervisor was treated with antibiotics for a pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial infection for approximately 1 year. However, a review of the radiological findings, which had not been previously assessed, revealed a different possibility. Accordingly, pulmonary resection was performed, enabling histopathological analysis, which showed numerous yeast-like fungi. Given the history of a stay in the southwestern United States for 2 months in 2009, 8 years previously, coccidioidomycosis was strongly suspected and the diagnosis was subsequently confirmed by serology and polymerase chain reaction testing of the excised specimen. Here, we report an educational case emphasizing the importance of meticulous medical history-taking and awareness of endemic mycoses in other countries in the context of globalization.