2.2.3 Intro to Opportunistic Infections Flashcards
C. neoformans typically affects what type of patients?
Immunocompromised patients
According to Dr. Fischback, as a patients CD4 levels drop what happens to the type of diseases they get infected with?
They get weirder
How is pneumocystis jirovecii transmitted?
Aerosolized mouse or rat urine
C. neoformans usually leads to what?
Meningitis but can also cause primary lung disease
What is a dimorphic fungi?
They have both a yeast form and a mycelial form - only the yeast form occurs within the human body
This image is characteristic of what disease?
Coccidioides immitus
Where is Coccidioides immitus found?
Southwest and California
This image is characteristic of what disease and what are its hallmark characteristics?
Pneumocystis carinii - Note foamy eosinophilic material within alveolar space. The organisms are not visible, except with the GMS silver stain.
Does Coccidioides immitus affect normal hosts?
Yes but it will disseminate with immunocompromised patients
How is cryptococcus transferred?
Infection is acquired by inhaling aerosolized droplets containing yeast, not transferred person to person.
What is this an image of and what are its defining characteristics?
Soap bubble appearance in the Virchow-Robbin space of the brain, characteristic of C. neoforman. Capsular polysaccharide stains intense red with periodic acid
Where does histoplasma capsulatum prefer to live?
Bird DROPPINGS!!
What is this an image of?
histoplasma capsulatum granuloma
Where is histoplasma capsulatum usually found within the host?
Within macrophage
What is this an image of and what staining is this?
India Ink test – not very sensitive, or specific, so it is rarely (if ever) used the modern laboratory. Calcifluor white staining or C Neoformans antigen testing is preferred. Note the budding yeast body within the capsule