Fungal infections are commonly associated with irksome, but relatively benign infections, such as athlete’s foot. However, when fungi (molds and yeasts) get into our blood or cerebrospinal fluid, the infections can be difficult to treat and lethal. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s mycotics team serves as a national and sometimes international resource to detect, intervene, and prevent fungal infections. Dr. Tom Chiller was leading this team when an outbreak causing catastrophic spinal fluid infections was reported. Although there were many deaths, and chronic disabilities due to this outbreak, CDC mobilized hundreds of personnel through their command center, quickly identified the source, notified scores of patients about possible life-threatening infection of the spine and brain, removed the contaminated medication supply, and prevented an untold number of deaths. This story highlights how an astute clinician, Dr. Pettit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, activated the state and federal public health system, eventually leading to legislation that improved the safety of the nation’s drug supply.
