Cocci (Valley Fever) Clinic in Arizona

Overview

Mayo Clinic provides the Phoenix area's only multidisciplinary approach to treating Coccidioidomycosis (cocci), often referred to as Valley Fever. The Cocci Clinic includes physicians from many specialties who collaborate with one another to ensure the disease is effectively managed. Specialties represented in the Cocci Clinic include:

• Infectious Disease
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Dermatology
• Cardiothoracic Surgery

Any patient infected with cocci can be seen at the Cocci Clinic. Referral would be appropriate for:

• Routine follow-up in managing the disease.
• Difficulty in diagnosis when test results fail to give clear-cut answers.
• Poor response to standard treatment and medications.
• Patients at risk for complicated or disseminated infection.
• Contraindicated for standard treatment (i.e. medication interaction, pregnancy, allergies, treatment-induced toxicity).
• Immune system issues such as transplant recipients, those undergoing chemotherapy and rheumatology patients.

Benefits to being seen at the Cocci Clinic include:

• Complete care in one location
• Coordinated and expedited multi-specialty evaluation
• Comprehensive work-up
• Expert opinion regarding diagnosis
• Evaluation for possible extra pulmonary infection Treatment and follow-up plan
• Future protocols for access to new medications not otherwise available

The incidence of cocci in Arizona has increased substantially over the last several years, affecting all age groups. Hospitalizations have also increased, indicating an increase in the numbers of persons with severe disease. Health-care providers should consider testing for cocci in any patient who has moved or traveled recently to Arizona and who has influenza-like symptoms, especially during the winter months. Peak periods for reporting tend to be November and March.