The Value of Routine Bone Marrow Culture for Histoplasma Capsulatum in Pediatric Hematology

Abstract

1. Of 76 bone marrow cultures in pediatric patients with a variety of hematologic abnormalities, 5 (6.5 per cent) yielded H. capsulatum. 2. Methods used and brief case reports were described. 3. In 2 of the 5 cases with histoplasmosis, organisms were observed on direct examination of the marrow and cultures were only of confirmatory value. 4. In the remaining 3 patients with histoplasmosis, direct examination of marrow showed no features which distinguished them from the 71 negatives. In these 3 bone marrow culture was the only means by which diagnosis could be established. 5. In no instance in which a negative bone marrow culture for H. capsulatum was obtained, was histoplasmosis diagnosed by other methods. 6. We are of the opinion that while routine marrow culture for H. capsulatum is of little value in adults, it is of considerable value for case finding in infants and children.