G. DAVID ONSTAD, M.D.
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To the editor: The recent article by Drs. Baum and Lerner (Ann Intern Med 73:263-265, 1970) regarding a bacteriology laboratory technician's presumed acquisition of primary pulmonary blastomycosis from handling a culture of Blastomyces dermatitidis was interesting and thought-provoking but left a few pertinent questions unanswered.
First, was a tuberculin skin test done (either before, during, or after)? If not, and if positive now, wouldn't this more likely have been a case of primary pulmonary tuberculosis? Are all laboratory technicians tuberculin skin-tested periodically?
Second, how much credence can be given to a single positive sputum culture? Could it have been a
ONSTAD GD. Primary Pulmonary Blastomycosis. Ann Intern Med. 1971;74:146. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-74-1-146
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1971;74(1):146.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-74-1-146