Coccidioidomycosis in New York State
Author Information
Author(s): Vishnu Chaturvedi, Rama Ramani, Sally Gromadzki, Birgit Rodeghier, Hwa-Gan Chang, Dale L. Morse
Primary Institution: New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York, USA; School of Public Health, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, New York, USA
Hypothesis
What are the characteristics of C. immitis infections among New York State residents?
Conclusion
Coccidioidomycosis may be more common in New York residents than previously recognized.
Supporting Evidence
- An estimated 100,000 infections occur in the United States annually.
- From 1992 to 1997, 181 hospitalizations with coccidioidomycosis were recorded in New York.
- Thirty-two patients (20%) had HIV, and 16 patients (10%) had cancer.
- 75% of patients were either over 54 years of age, had cancer, or were HIV infected.
- 14 of 16 isolates had multilocus genotypes similar to those of Arizona isolates.
Takeaway
Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal disease that can be more common in places where it isn't usually found, like New York, especially among people who are sick or older.
Methodology
The study used hospital discharge records and state mycology laboratory data to investigate C. immitis infections from 1992 to 1997.
Potential Biases
Limited travel history information may have affected the correlation between travel and disease acquisition.
Limitations
The study relied on hospital discharge summary data, which limited detailed evaluation of diagnostic criteria.
Participant Demographics
{"total_patients":161,"male":93,"female":68,"age_range":"0-93","mean_age":54,"race":{"white":128,"black":18,"asian_pacific_islander":2,"other":9,"unknown":4},"ethnicity":{"hispanic":4,"non_hispanic":151,"unknown":6},"concurrent_conditions":{"HIV":32,"cancer":16,"died_while_hospitalized":18}}
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