SHAME ON THE MIAMI & BROWARD VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
(July 2026) (Revised Oct. 8, 2026)

For not being able or willing to detect pulmonary infections caused by Mold (Fungus). And for not believing the micrographs (photos taken through a microscope) of multiple sputum cultures done by me.

This was the third time in 15 years that I had to depend on a doctor, outside of the VA health care system, in order to get the necessary prescription to treat an acute pulmonary infection caused by molds (fungus).

Neither my VA primary care physician nor a pulmonary physician assistant believed the photos of mold colonies from 3 different agar cultures I made. Nor would they believe the many micrographs showing the different molds of the colonies.

They did order a sputum culture, done by the Miami VA Lab. (on June 2026). However, the lab found no mold, just an acid fast bacteria. But one of my cultures was done with the very same sputum that I took to the their lab. So are they incapable of detecting molds in sputum?. I say molds, instead of mold, because I identified 3 different types of mold in the same sputum.

And empirical prove that the infection was caused by mold, is the fact that after I took the necessary medication (Voriconazole), on early July, prescribed by a doctor outside of the VA health care system, the coughing of white sticky sputum stopped. And I no longer had to take MyQuill at night or formula 44 during the day to stop the frequent coughs.

Update (early Sept. 2026):

However, sometime in August, the coughs and sputum returned. Not as bad as before, but I could feel bronchial congestion.

After seen an infectious disease specialist, at the Miami VA, another sputum culture was ordered.
This time they did find some mold (fungus). However, identification of the type of mold has not been done yet. And no acid-fast bacteria was found this time.

Update (late Sept. 2026)

It seems that the green mold (Genus: Penicillium) was not eliminated by the Voriconazole. However, 75 mg of Fluconazole every 12 hours for a few days, did eliminate it. The Fluconazole was also not prescribed by the VA. And now I don't have to take Formula 44 cough syrup to stop the coughs. And I am no longer coughing thick opaque-white sputum (indicative of a fungal infection in the lungs or bronchial tubes).

Update (October 8, 2026)

Finally, on October 1, Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute (in Virginia) identified the mold, that the Miami VA Lab isolated on September 9, as PENICILLIUM. So, it took them almost a month to discover what I had isolated and identified in 3 days, back in May 13 and again in June.

To see the direct empirical evidence that I showed the VA pulmonary, in June, and to the VA infectious disease specialist in September,  and that they ignored because I am not a licensed microscopist, go to this link:

THE MOLD (FUNGUS) IN MY LUNGS

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