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Acute histoplasmosis in immunocompetent travelers: a systematic review of literature.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection highly endemic in the American continent. The disease can be severe in immunocompromised subjects. In immunocompetent subjects the clinical manifestations are variable. Aim of this work was to review the cases of acute histoplasmosis in immunocompetent travelers reported in literature. METHODS:A systematic review of literature was conducted. Electronic search was performed in Pubmed and LILACS. Two reviewers independently extracted data on demographic, clinical and radiological features, and treatment. Cases were classified according to Wheat's definitions. RESULTS:Seventy-one studies were included in the analysis, comprising a total of 814 patients. Twenty-one patients diagnosed at the Centre of Tropical Diseases, Negrar (VR), Italy were also included. The most common travel destination was Central America (168 people, 29.8%); the most common way of exposure to histoplasma was the exploration of caves and/or contact with bat guano (349 people, 60.9%). The multivariate logistic regression model showed association between the development of disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) and activities that involved the exploration of caves and/or the contact with bats' guano (adjusted OR: 34.20 95% CI: 5.29 to 220.93) or other outdoor activities (adjusted OR: 4.61 95% CI: 1.09 to 19.56). No significant difference in the attack rate between countries of destination was observed (p-value: 0.8906, Kruskal-Wallis test). CONCLUSIONS:Histoplasmosis often causes no or mild symptoms in immunocompetent individuals, although a severe syndrome may occur. The infection can mimic other diseases, and the epidemiological risk of exposure is an important clue to raise the index of suspicion.

SUBMITTER: Staffolani S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6299618 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Histoplasma capsulatum (var. capsulatum Hcc and duboisii Hcd), is a dimorphic fungus that causes histoplasmosis. It usually affects people coming from endemic areas, causing a variety of clinical manifestations up to progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH), especially among people living with HIV (PLWH). We conducted a systematic review to assess histoplasmosis burden of PLWH in Europe. The review follows PRISMA guidelines, with protocol registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023429779). Seventy-eight articles were selected, including 109 patients (32 women). On overall, median age was 37 years. Forty-six patients were Americans, 39 Africans, 17 Europeans, 5 Asians, in 2 cases nationality was not specified. Cases were mainly diagnosed in Italy (28.4%), France (17.3%) and Spain (17.4%), with a north-south gradient. Six cases lacked epidemiologic links with endemic areas. Concerning CDC HIV staging at diagnosis, the information was available for 60 PLWH (55%) and all subjects were at stage C3 except for two subjects at stage B3. PDH was the AIDS-presenting illness in 39 patients. Most patients had a PDH (80.7%); other common extrapulmonary forms were isolated cutaneous histoplasmosis (7.3%), or lymphatic localization (2.7%). In 30 cases, the diagnosis was made by analyzing only one sample. For the remaining 79 cases, multiple samples were collected from each patient. Regarding the biological sample more frequently used for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis, bronchoalveolar lavage sample was taken from 39 patients, and tested positive in 51.3% of cases; 36 patients underwent a skin biopsy which was positive in 86.1% of cases and 28 patients performed bone-marrow biopsy, which led to the diagnosis of histoplasmosis in 92.9% of cases. The identification of Histoplasma capsulatum was available in 97 PLWH through examination of different samples: Hcc and Hcd were identified in 89 and 8 PLWH, respectively. Concerning therapies, 67.9% were treated with liposomal amphotericin B, 18.3% with itraconazole, 10 died pre-treatment. The overall mortality rate was 23.6%. Non-survivors exhibited more frequently gastrointestinal symptoms (p = 0.017), while cutaneous signs correlated with better survival (p = 0.05). Untreated patients faced higher mortality (p < 0.001). Histoplasmosis should be considered amongst opportunistic infection in PLWH, even in Europe, especially if patients originate from or have travelled to endemic areas. Systematic review registration: The registration number is CRD42023429779.

Project description:INTRODUCTION:Histoplasmosis is a rare fungal disease caused by dimorphic fungi Histoplasma capsulatum. The causative fungus persists in soil, infects through inhalation and manifests in three main types-acute primary, chronic cavitary and progressive disseminated histoplasmosis. Disseminated Histoplasmosis (DH) is defined as a clinical condition where the fungus is present in more than one location. Among the forms of histoplasmosis, DH is the rarest and mostly found in an immuno-compromised individual. Here we are presenting our experiences of the series of cases of DH in immuno-competent individuals who have been diagnosed in our institute in last 5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS:This is a single centre retrospective observational study, conducted in Institute of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, which is a referral centre for Eastern India, from May 2009 to April 2014. Only cases with DH in otherwise healthy immuno-competent individuals were included in the study. The histoplasmosis was confirmed either by presence of Histoplasma in biopsy specimen from an extrapulmonary organ or by positive growth in fungal culture. RESULT:Total seven patients met the inclusion criteria. Five out of 7 patients were male. The mean age was 35 years. Five of the 7 patients presented with fever for a long duration. Six patients complained of significant weight loss before diagnosis. On examination, one patient had skin nodules, five patients had hepato-splenomegaly, and two patients had lymphadenopathy. The laboratory investigations revealed anaemia in six out of 7 patients, and pancytopenia in 3 patients. Two patients had features of the hemophagocytic syndrome in the bone marrow. All patients were treated with conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate and azole antifungal. One patient with adrenal involvement died in hospital. The patient with skin nodule had recurrent relapses. The other patients had resolution of symptoms and were clinically cured. CONCLUSION:DH is not an uncommon aetiology of fever of prolonged duration even in immuno-competent individual and should be kept as a differential diagnosis. Targeted investigation through early bone marrow biopsy and fungal culture may help in the diagnosis of DH. Imaging study to exclude adrenal involvement prevents case fatality. Cytopenia may be due to a secondary hemophagocytic syndrome, which improves with anti-fungal therapy. Treatment with either amphotericin B or itraconazole gives excellent outcome though therapy may have to be given for a prolonged period in case of relapses.

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Acute histoplasmosis in immunocompetent travelers: a systematic review of literature.

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