Blastomyces dermatitidis

No sorry this is not the cause of Helen's present condition. This organism is a dimorphic fungus (yeast cell at 37oC and a mycelial form at room temp). Patients traveling to the southeastern parts of the United States are likely to get this infection. Helen has no history of travel. KOH preparations of sputum samples would reveal broad-based budding yeast cells (the image is not a gram stain). Try again.

Do you need to go back and look at Helen again?
CHIEF COMPLAINT
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LABORATORY TESTS