The California Department of Health (CDPH) is warning healthcare providers about an increased number of reported cases of coccidiomycosis. A total of 9280 cases of coccidioidomycosis with illness onset dates in 2023 have been reported in California to date, which is higher than any other year on record, and is an increase that is likely to continue this winter due to heavy rainfall last winter after years of drought.
Providers should strongly suspect pulmonary coccidioidomycosis in a patient with community acquired pneumonia who does not respond to an initial course of antibiotics, who has significant exposure to dust or dirt, or whose symptoms last more than 1-2 weeks. Negative serology in a patient with compatible symptoms may not rule out the diagnosis, and culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, if available, should be considered in patients with severe disease.
Please see the CDPH advisory for detailed background and clinical recommendations.
