The increase in the use of IV drugs has been accompanied by an increase in the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE). The clinical picture, vitals, examination, blood cultures, laboratory tests, and imaging can help diagnose IE. The Duke criteria also play a role in the diagnosis of IE. Prolonged antibiotic use and even interventions may be needed in the management of specific cases. Rare complications such as mycotic aneurysms and intracranial hemorrhages can be fatal and must be promptly addressed to prevent loss of life and serve debilitation in these patients.
Blastomycosis is caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is endemic in certain areas in North America. It usually causes lung infection, and it can disseminate to other organs in immunocompromised individuals. Common sites for dissemination include skin, central nervous system (CNS), and bone. Dermatological spread is the commonest site for extrapulmonary spread. The diagnosis can be easily missed due to nonspecific presentation and variable dermatological presentations. Treatment is necessary even if the patient has improvement in symptoms without previous treatment. We present a case of disseminated blastomycosis in a 40-year-old male without known risk factors that went undiagnosed for over a year.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.