Alternaria on Culture Plate and Microscopy
Adult w/ aplastic anemia, getting regular blood product infusions. Had Group B Strep bacteremia. Also had blood fungal cultures & put on fluconazaole. 
One plate grew a fuzzy colony w/ a dark center. Thoughts?
See the chains of conidia that with alternating wide and narrow ends ("beaver tails")? It's Alternaria. A dematiaceous environmental fungi (that can cause invasive disease). Macroconidia can have lateral and longitudinal divisions.

Rich Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS @richdavisphd

#Alternaria #Culture #Microscopy #clinical #microbiology