Coccidioidomycosis in Pregnancy: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background Coccidioidomycosis is an uncommon fungal infection during pregnancy. We report a case and review the literature on coccidioidomycosis in pregnancy. Methods We searched MEDLINE (1966-2005), PubMed (1950-2005), Embase (1974-2005), the Cochrane Library, and the Index-Catalogue of the Library of the Surgeon-General’s Office United States Army (1880-1961) for cases of coccidioidomycosis occurring during pregnancy. We describe a woman with disseminated coccidioidomycosis during the last trimester of pregnancy with fungemia, respiratory failure, a miliary pattern on chest radiograph, and skin and bony involvement. Results We identified 80 additional cases of coccidioidomycosis occurring with pregnancy in the literature. The mean age of patients was 26 years (range 16-38 years). Disseminated disease was strongly associated with the trimester of pregnancy; 40% of the cases diagnosed before pregnancy, 50% of the cases diagnosed in the first trimester, 62% of the cases diagnosed in the second trimester, and 96% of the cases diagnosed in the third trimester had dissemination (P < .001). In addition, African American women had a 13-fold increased risk of dissemination compared with white women (P = .007). Conclusions Mortality rates have improved over time in association with the timely administration of antifungal therapy. Disseminated coccidioidomycosis may occur during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester. Improved maternal and fetal survival is associated with early disease recognition and administration of amphotericin B.