epidemiology
Last reviewed 01/2018
- C. immitis is endemic in the Southwestern United States - especially California, Arizona, Texas
- C. immitis is also endemic in Mexico, and Central and Southern America
- infection is acquired by inhalation of arthrospores
- the only person-to-person transmission has been indirect, through exposure to contaminated secretions eg if infected pus drained into a dressing then the conditions may be favorable (moisture, nutritive conditions, correct temperature) for the fungus to complete its life cycle by coverting from a tissue form to infectious airborne spores
- there is not requirement for isolation of patients with cocciodomycosis
- immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, infants, and nonwhite people are especially susceptible to C. immitis infection