mold in a patient case report

Invasive mold infection is a serious complication described in patients with severe viral pneumonia (1). Centers in Europe, China, and the United States have reported cases of fungal superinfections among patients with severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Aspergillosis is the main reported etiology; incidences range from 7.7% to 27.7% (2–8).

Full Answer

How are mold infections diagnosed?

Cases of mold infections are often diagnosed using multiple methods (e.g., culture, histopathology, serologic testing, PCR), making tracking these infections difficult. Also, case numbers are often small, making it difficult to tell if infection rates are truly above baseline.

How long does it take for mold to infect a patient?

Finally, the incubation period for most mold infections is unclear, but when a patient’s mold infection begins more than 1–2 weeks after admission to a hospital or is a surgical site infection, healthcare acquisition should be suspected.

Who should be notified of mold infections?

In general, it is best to notify patients at greatest risk of invasive mold infections (e.g., transplant recipients, patients with hematologic malignancies) as soon as possible once a cluster of invasive mold infections is identified. Notification should occur even before an investigation is complete or a common source is identified.

What health problems can mold cause?

Mold can cause a variety of health problems, or none at all. The most severe health problems caused by mold include serious infections. For more information about how mold can affect health, visit CDC’s Mold page. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that you think are related to a serious mold infection.

How do you prove you're sick from mold?

Skin prick test. This test uses diluted amounts of common or suspected allergens, such as molds found in the local area. During the test, these substances are applied to the skin of your arm or back with tiny punctures. If you're allergic, you develop a raised bump (hive) at the test location on your skin.

What are the health problems associated with mold?

Exposure to a large number of mold spores may cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, and fatigue. Repeated exposure to mold can increase a person's sensitivity, causing more severe allergic reactions.

What is evidence of mold?

If you smell a persistent musty odor, then there might be mold in your home. Visible signs of mold growth. Some molds might appear white and thread-like. Others appear in clusters of small back spots.

Is mold a public health issue?

Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

What symptoms can mold cause?

The most common symptoms of mold exposure include:Coughing.Postnasal drip.Sneezing.Dry, scaly skin.Itchy eyes, nose, or throat.Nasal congestion.

How long can mold exposure affect you?

It is not necessary to see a doctor for a cold, as the symptoms will usually go away on their own within a few days. However, it is important to see a doctor if symptoms persist for longer than 10 days or become severe.

What does mold poisoning feel like?

Primarily, mold illness is associated with allergic reactions that mimic seasonal allergies. Respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, watery eyes, and skin irritation are the predominant symptoms.

Can mold cause neurological issues?

Human exposure to molds, mycotoxins, and water-damaged buildings can cause neurologic and neuropsychiatric signs and symptoms.

Is mold a biohazard?

The presence of mold is considered a biohazard due to the adverse effects it has on humans and animals.

Is mold a hazardous substance?

Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Mold does not have to be alive to cause an allergic reaction. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.

What infections can mold cause?

For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold.

How many plagues were caused by mycotoxins?

There is even speculation that 1 of the 10 plagues of Egypt may have been caused by mycotoxins, as well as Saint Anthony’s fire. Mycotoxins are ionophores measuring approximately 0.03 microns in length and weighing approximately 500-1500 daltons. As airborne particles smaller than 1.0 micron, they are easily inhaled.

Is mold a CIRS?

Lauren Tessier, ND. Mold illness comes in many different forms, with the most widely acknowledged forms being allergic and infectious, and the more controversial form being mycotoxicosis and Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS). Molds and their secondary metabolites, mycotoxins, have taken the medical community by storm in recent years.

Abstract

A 29 year-old male presented with fevers, chills and induration of submental area. Cultures from the neck abscess grew Aspergillus fumigatus. Laboratory evaluation for possible immunosupression, including HIV, immunoglobulin and complement studies were within normal limits.

Introduction

Aspergillus is the culprit for a variety of diseases processes, ranging from hypersensitivity diseases to invasive infections. It is primarily known to infect severely immunocompromised such as patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and transplant patients ( Vennewald and Wollina, 2005, Bernardeschi et al., 2015 ).

Case

A 29 year-old male laboratory technician, without significant medical or family history presented with neck swelling, fevers and chills for one week. Four weeks prior to presentation he developed a skin rash in the same area which he attributed to contact with a new guinea pig. One week prior to the presentation he noted neck swelling.

Discussion

Cutaneous invasive aspergillosis is a common finding in immunosuppressed patients, however there are few cases in immunocompetent patients. The presence of violaceous macules, papules, plaques, nodules, pustules, subcutaneous abscesses along with ulcerations with central necrosis are commonly seen in patients with invasive aspergillosis.

Consent to participate

Patient gave his informed consent for photography and for the publication.

Funding

This research work did not receive specific funding and was performed as part of the employment of the authors at Flushing Hospital Medical Center.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Case Study

• Patient History
  A 43-year-old Caucasian female presented with multiple symptoms following acute, severe mold exposure that had been preceded by low-level, chronic mold exposure. Minor allergy symptoms were commonplace for the patient when in the home, but ultimately had been well controlled wit…

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Symptoms

Physical Exam

Laboratory Workup

Treatment & Follow-Ups

Discussion