Anto-fungals general

Question 1

Sx of fungal infections

Answer 1

inflammatory response (elevated WBC, topical redness)
fever

Question 2

Dx of fungal infections

Answer 2

tissue/blood culture
radiography
serological testing (for antibodies agaisnt fungi)
galactomannan assay (spergilus)
B-glucan (candida)

Question 3

risk factors for immunosupressed pt’s

Answer 3

invasive surgery
myelosupression from chemotherapy (kills bone marrow which produce red cells + platelets) will be more at risk for infection

immunosupression after solid organ dz or stem cell transplant
immunisupressive dz (knocks out CD4 cells, makes them immunosupressed)
alterations in normal flora d/t use of broad spectrum abs (knocks out normal flora bacteria, so bad bacteria take over)

Question 4

Classes of Antifungals

Answer 4

azoles, polyenes, flucytosine, echinocandins, griseofulvin, terbinafine

Question 5

Fungistatic

Answer 5

inhibit growth

-immune system can complete eradication of the fungi

Question 6

Fungicidal

Answer 6

kill fungal pathogen

• dependent on mechanism of drug and ability to reach adequate concentration
• preffered for tx in immunocpompromised pt’s