Organism

Number of cases

Method of detection

Fungus

(n = 31)

Pneumocystis jiroveci

1

Histochemical stain alone: 1

(1 culture-negative)

Histoplasma

4

Histochemical stain + Culture: 2

Histochemical stain alone: 2

(1 culture-negative, 1 no culture performed)

Aspergillus

2

Histochemical stain + Culture: 2

Cryptococcus

5

Histochemical stain + Culture: 4

Histochemical stain alone: 1

(1 no culture performed)

Coccidioides

14

Histochemical + Culture: 9

(one incorrectly identified as Aspergillus on morphology)

Histochemical stain alone: 5

(3 culture-negative, 2 no culture performed)

Blastomyces

2

Histochemical stain + Culture: 2

Mold, not otherwise specified

1

Histochemical stain + Culture: 1

(culture showed Aspergillus fumigatus)

Branching fungus, not otherwise specified

2

Histochemical stain alone: 1

(culture showed Candida tropicalis)

(1 culture-negative)

Mycobacteria

(n = 31)

Mycobacterium simiae

1

Histochemical stain + Culture: 1

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

12

Histochemical stain + Culture: 3

Culture alone: 9

Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus group

3

Histochemical stain + Culture: 1

Culture alone: 2

Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) complex

12

Histochemical stain + Culture: 9

Culture alone: 3

Acid-fast bacilli, not otherwise specified

3

Histochemical stain alone: 3

(3 culture-negative)

Negative for organisms

51

No culture performed and no organism identified on special stains

20