Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Mar;20(3):349-55.
doi: 10.3201/eid2003.131230.

Invasive fungal infections after natural disasters

Kaitlin Benedict, Benjamin J Park
Meta-Analysis

Invasive fungal infections after natural disasters

Kaitlin Benedict et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

The link between natural disasters and subsequent fungal infections in disaster-affected persons has been increasingly recognized. Fungal respiratory conditions associated with disasters include coccidioidomycosis, and fungi are among several organisms that can cause near-drowning pneumonia. Wound contamination with organic matter can lead to post-disaster skin and soft tissue fungal infections, notably mucormycosis. The role of climate change in the environmental growth, distribution, and dispersal mechanisms of pathogenic fungi is not fully understood; however, ongoing climate change could lead to increased disaster-associated fungal infections. Fungal infections are an often-overlooked clinical and public health issue, and increased awareness by health care providers, public health professionals, and community members regarding disaster-associated fungal infections is needed.

Keywords: coccidioidomycosis; disasters; fungal infection; fungi; fungus; injuries; meningitis; mucormycosis; pneumonia; tornadoes; tsunamis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure
Figure
Necrotizing cutaneous mucormycosis, Joplin, Missouri, USA, 2011 (4). A left flank wound in a mucormycosis case-patient, with macroscopical fungal growth (tissue with white, fluffy appearance) and necrotic borders before repeated surgical debridement. Copyright 2012 Massachusetts Medical Society. Reprinted with permission.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Noji EK. The public health consequences of disasters. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2000;15:147–57 . - PubMed
    1. World Health Organization. WHO definitions: emergencies [cited 2013 Aug 12]; http://www.who.int/hac/about/definitions/en/index.html
    1. Floret N, Viel JF, Mauny F, Hoen B, Piarroux R. Negligible risk for epidemics after geophysical disasters. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006;12:543–8. 10.3201/eid1204.051569 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Neblett Fanfair R, Benedict K, Bos J, Bennett SD, Lo Y-C, Adebanjo T, et al. Necrotizing cutaneous mucormycosis after a tornado in Joplin, Missouri, in 2011. N Engl J Med. 2012;367:2214–25. 10.1056/NEJMoa1204781 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Kawakami Y, Tagami T, Kusakabe T, Kido N, Kawaguchi T, Omura M, et al. Disseminated aspergillosis associated with tsunami lung. Respir Care. 2012;57:1674–8. 10.4187/respcare.01701 - DOI - PubMed

Publication types