From Cave to Clinic: Managing Histoplasmosis in Returning Travelers

Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma, a dimorphic fungus found in soil. It also spreads in bird and bat droppings that mix in soil. People may be at increased risk for Histoplasma exposure when engaging in adventure activities such as cave exploration, ecotourism, or other activities that disturb contaminated soil or aerosolize fungal spores. Illness can range from asymptomatic or mild respiratory disease to severe acute pulmonary or disseminated disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals.

During this COCA Call, presenters will share current evidence on the epidemiology of travel-associated histoplasmosis, with a focus on cave-associated outbreaks in travelers visiting Central and South America. They will also discuss best practices for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

If you are unable to attend the live session of this COCA Call, the closed-captioned video and transcript will be available on the COCA Call webpage approximately one week after the live session.

The slide set will be available on the day of the call on the COCA Call webpage under “Webinar”.

Free Continuing Education (CE) will be offered for this COCA Call.