Testing for coccidioidomycosis in emergency departments in Arizona

Med Mycol. 2018 Oct 1;56(7):900-902. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myx112.

Abstract

Testing practices for coccidioidomycosis in the emergency department are poorly understood. We described characteristics of patients tested for coccidioidomycosis in emergency departments in Arizona and examined coccidioidomycosis testing among community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients. Emergency department visit records for patients tested for coccidioidomycosis and CAP patients were extracted from the Arizona hospital discharge database. In sum, 2.8% of CAP patients were tested for coccidioidomycosis. The proportion of patients tested varied substantially by healthcare facility and provider.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arizona
  • Coccidioidomycosis / diagnosis*
  • Community-Acquired Infections / diagnosis*
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / methods*
  • Emergency Medicine / methods*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital*
  • Female
  • Health Services Research
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult