Endemic fungal infections in North America: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, discuss endemic fungal infections that can be found in North America, specifically blastomycosis and histoplasmosis. 

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The basics of Blastomyces and Histoplasma fungi, which can cause serious lung infections.
• The recent blastomycosis outbreak at a Michigan paper mill.
• How these fungal infections are diagnosed in the laboratory.
• The cost-effectiveness of testing for the two pathogens with a single assay, and the importance of test stewardship.