Ian Hennessee,Sara Palmer,Rebecca Reik,Arianna Miles-Jay,Muhammad Yasir Nawaz,Heather M Blankenship,Rebecca Kramer,Adam Hughes,Michael Snyder,Robert L Yin,Anastasia P Litvintseva,Lindsay A Parnell,Lalitha Gade,Tom Chiller,Marie A de Perio,Mary Grace Stobierski,Jevon McFadden,Mitsuru Toda,
{"title":"Epidemiological and clinical features of a large blastomycosis outbreak at a paper mill in Michigan.","authors":"Ian Hennessee,Sara Palmer,Rebecca Reik,Arianna Miles-Jay,Muhammad Yasir Nawaz,Heather M Blankenship,Rebecca Kramer,Adam Hughes,Michael Snyder,Robert L Yin,Anastasia P Litvintseva,Lindsay A Parnell,Lalitha Gade,Tom Chiller,Marie A de Perio,Mary Grace Stobierski,Jevon McFadden,Mitsuru Toda,","doi":"10.1093/cid/ciae513","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND\r\nBlastomycosis is an environmentally acquired fungal infection that can result in severe pulmonary illness and high hospitalization rates. In 2023, a blastomycosis outbreak was detected among workers at a paper mill in Delta County, Michigan.\r\n\r\nMETHODS\r\nWe included patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of blastomycosis who had spent ≥40 hours in Delta County since September 1, 2022 and had illness onset December 1, 2022-July 1, 2023. We assessed epidemiological and clinical features of patients and evaluated factors associated with hospitalization. We performed whole-genome sequencing to characterize genetic relatedness of clinical isolates from eight patients.\r\n\r\nRESULTS\r\nIn total, 131 patients were identified; all had worked at or visited the mill. Sixteen patients (12%) were hospitalized; one died. Compared with non-hospitalized patients, more hospitalized patients had diabetes (p=0.03) and urine antigen titers above the lower limit of quantification (p<0.001). Hospitalized patients were also more likely to have had ≥1 healthcare visits before receiving a blastomycosis diagnostic test (p=0.02) and to have been treated with antibiotics prior to antifungal prescription (p=0.001). All sequenced isolates were identified as Blastomyces gilchristii and clustered into a distinct outbreak cluster.\r\n\r\nCONCLUSIONS\r\nThis was the largest documented blastomycosis outbreak in the United States. Epidemiologic evidence indicated exposures occurred at or near the mill, and genomic findings suggested a common exposure source. Patients with diabetes may have increased risk for hospitalization, and elevated urine antigen titers could indicate greater disease severity. Early suspicion of blastomycosis may prompt earlier diagnosis and treatment, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and improving patient outcomes.","PeriodicalId":10463,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Infectious Diseases","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Clinical Infectious Diseases","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciae513","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"IMMUNOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Blastomycosis is an environmentally acquired fungal infection that can result in severe pulmonary illness and high hospitalization rates. In 2023, a blastomycosis outbreak was detected among workers at a paper mill in Delta County, Michigan.
METHODS
We included patients with clinical and laboratory evidence of blastomycosis who had spent ≥40 hours in Delta County since September 1, 2022 and had illness onset December 1, 2022-July 1, 2023. We assessed epidemiological and clinical features of patients and evaluated factors associated with hospitalization. We performed whole-genome sequencing to characterize genetic relatedness of clinical isolates from eight patients.
RESULTS
In total, 131 patients were identified; all had worked at or visited the mill. Sixteen patients (12%) were hospitalized; one died. Compared with non-hospitalized patients, more hospitalized patients had diabetes (p=0.03) and urine antigen titers above the lower limit of quantification (p<0.001). Hospitalized patients were also more likely to have had ≥1 healthcare visits before receiving a blastomycosis diagnostic test (p=0.02) and to have been treated with antibiotics prior to antifungal prescription (p=0.001). All sequenced isolates were identified as Blastomyces gilchristii and clustered into a distinct outbreak cluster.
CONCLUSIONS
This was the largest documented blastomycosis outbreak in the United States. Epidemiologic evidence indicated exposures occurred at or near the mill, and genomic findings suggested a common exposure source. Patients with diabetes may have increased risk for hospitalization, and elevated urine antigen titers could indicate greater disease severity. Early suspicion of blastomycosis may prompt earlier diagnosis and treatment, potentially reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions and improving patient outcomes.
期刊介绍:
Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID) is dedicated to publishing original research, reviews, guidelines, and perspectives with the potential to reshape clinical practice, providing clinicians with valuable insights for patient care. CID comprehensively addresses the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a wide spectrum of infectious diseases. The journal places a high priority on the assessment of current and innovative treatments, microbiology, immunology, and policies, ensuring relevance to patient care in its commitment to advancing the field of infectious diseases.