Sinus washes: Bipolaris species – Shipped January 16, 2017
HISTORY
This challenge was sent as a simulated sinus washes sample. Laboratories were expected to isolate and identify Bipolaris species.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from MY1701-3
- Human infections caused by species of the genus Bipolaris have been increasingly reported during the past 10 years.
- Reporting Bipolaris species in this type of specimen as “considered non-pathogenic” could be misleading as this organism has been identified as a cause of fungal rhinosinusitis.
CMPT is a program of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.