epidemiology

Last reviewed 01/2018

• C. immitis is endemic in the Southwestern United States - especially California, Arizona, Texas
• C. immitis is also endemic in Mexico, and Central and Southern America
• infection is acquired by inhalation of arthrospores
• the only person-to-person transmission has been indirect, through exposure to contaminated secretions eg if infected pus drained into a dressing then the conditions may be favorable (moisture, nutritive conditions, correct temperature) for the fungus to complete its life cycle by coverting from a tissue form to infectious airborne spores
• there is not requirement for isolation of patients with cocciodomycosis
• immunocompromised patients, pregnant women, infants, and nonwhite people are especially susceptible to C. immitis infection