Alternaria on Culture Plate and Microscopy
Adult w/ aplastic anemia, getting regular blood product infusions. Had Group B Strep bacteremia. Also had blood fungal cultures & put on fluconazaole.
One plate grew a fuzzy colony w/ a dark center. Thoughts?
See the chains of conidia that with alternating wide and narrow ends ("beaver tails")? It's Alternaria. A dematiaceous environmental fungi (that can cause invasive disease). Macroconidia can have lateral and longitudinal divisions.
Rich Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS @richdavisphd
#Alternaria #Culture #Microscopy #clinical #microbiology
