Overwhelming opportunistic histoplasmosis.

A patient with chronic granulocytic leukemia developed overwhelming histoplasmosis. During massive fungemia, 59% of peripheral blood neutrophils contained yeast forms. Disseminated intravascular coagulation occurred. Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated not only from the patient's tissues and urine, but also from a serum sample submitted to a reference laboratory for serological testing. The microorganism was demonstrated by specific immunofluorescent staining of peripheral blood films. We suggest that histoplasmosis deserves a definite place on the roster of "opportunistic fungi".