›Mycelial (mold) form in environment at temperatures < 35 C
›Yeast form at body temperature 37 C — pathogenic form
›Microconidia (2–4 µm) are the infectious particles inhaled
›Endemic ecology
›Found in soil enriched with bat and bird excreta
›Aerosolization during excavation, demolition, or disturbance of soil
›Infection progression
›Primary pulmonary infection
›Microconidia deposited in alveoli
›Convert to yeast form within macrophages
›Granuloma formation — successful containment in immunocompetent hosts
›Dissemination mechanism
›Yeast survives and replicates within macrophages
›Hematogenous spread to reticuloendothelial system
›Liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes most affected
›In immunocompromised host, granuloma formation fails — dissemination ensues
›Organ-specific pathology
›Adrenal glands — bilateral infiltration and destruction
›Bilateral adrenal enlargement characteristic
›Eventual fibrosis and calcification with chronic disease
›CNS — meningitis and parenchymal granulomas
›Basilar meningitis pattern most common
›Elevated ICP from chronic meningeal inflammation
›HLH — macrophage activation triggered by fungal antigen
›Uncontrolled macrophage activation and cytokine storm
›Cytophagocytosis of blood cells in marrow and liver
Therapeutic Considerations
›Antifungal mechanism and rationale
›Amphotericin B — fungicidal, binds ergosterol in fungal cell membrane
›Rapid kill kinetics — preferred for severe disease
›Liposomal formulation reduces nephrotoxicity without compromising efficacy
›Survival benefit demonstrated over deoxycholate formulation in RCT
›Itraconazole — fungistatic, inhibits lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase
›Effective for step-down and consolidation therapy
›Requires prolonged therapy (minimum 12 months) due to fungistatic mechanism
›Treatment monitoring strategy
›Urine Histoplasma antigen — surrogate marker for disease burden
›Quantitative ELISA allows monitoring of treatment response
›Antigen decline confirms adequate therapy
›Rising antigen suggests relapse or treatment failure
›Itraconazole serum level monitoring critical
›Subtherapeutic levels common with capsule formulation
›Absorption impaired by PPIs, H2 blockers, and low gastric acid
›Renal function monitoring during amphotericin B
›Creatinine, potassium, magnesium every 48–72 hours
›Dose adjustment rarely needed — drug rarely discontinued for renal toxicity in severe disease
›Special therapeutic scenarios
›IRIS in HIV patients starting ART
›Paradoxical worsening despite microbiological improvement
›Continue both ART and antifungals
›Corticosteroids for life-threatening IRIS
›TNF-alpha inhibitor discontinuation
›Mandatory during treatment
›Risk of reactivation of other latent infections (TB, coccidiomycosis) also present
›Secondary prophylaxis rationale
›Antigenuria recurs in approximately 90% of patients who relapse
›Lifelong prophylaxis may be required in persistently immunosuppressed patients