Occupational Coccidioidomycosis in a heavy equipment operator

Abstract

This article describes a case of Coccidioidomycosis pneumonia in an individual who worked in the McKittrick Oil Field, Kern County, California, for 15 days during an approximate 1-month period in 2016. Coccidioidomycosis is caused by inhaling spores of Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis), a soil fungus endemic in regions of California, most notably the San Joaquin Valley. In California, Kern County has the highest incidence rate of Coccidioidomycosis, and the McKittrick Oil Field lies within the most highly endemic part of Kern County. The affected individual, who resided in a nonendemic state, traveled to Kern County to operate heavy equipment and also perform some laborer tasks. He experienced substantial exposure to soil dust without wearing adequate respiratory protection. Consideration of the relative amounts of soil dust exposure due to the individual’s oil field work vs. ambient air permits a conclusion that his infection was work-related. In addition to respiratory protection, some measures needed to reduce soil dust exposure during construction work in areas endemic for C. immitis are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• C. immitis
• Coccidioidomycosis
• soil fungus exposure

Acknowledgments

The author served as a consultant to the plaintiff’s attorneys in a personal injury lawsuit, which was settled without a trial, but was not compensated for writing this article.