compromised immune systems and fungal pathogens

Question 1

mortality rates in AIDS patients are estimated to range from

Answer 1

15-20% in US and up to 70% in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa

Question 2

definititon

Answer 2

an individual who does not have the ability to respond normally tp an infection due to impaired or wakened immune system

Question 3

what may caused a compromise immune system

Answer 3

HIV diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, drugs, transplant patients

Question 4

three reasons the immunocompromised population is on the increase

Answer 4

• more organ transplants
• use of new and more potent chemotherapeutic agents and regimes
• life expectancy increasing

Question 5

more organ transplant

Answer 5

in 2008- 23,000 organ transplants

Question 6

life expectancy increasing

Answer 6

as we get older our immune systems weaken

Question 7

why are immunocompromised patients so threatened by fungal infections

Answer 7

due to their highly compromised immune systems and antibiotic use

Question 8

due to advances in medicine

Answer 8

there is also an increase in invasive fungal infections

Question 9

what poses a challenge to physicians

Answer 9

the fact that comprised immune systems are on the increase and so are invasive fungal infection

Question 10

although the spectrums of antifungals are increasing

Answer 10

so is the morbidity of fungal infections

Question 11

suggestions

Answer 11

to counter ubiquitous fungi development of less damaging immunosupprresion meths must be thought up

Question 12

how could we achieve better immune tolerance

Answer 12

if we shorten the duration of neutropenia and improve our immune suppression regimes to bettie achieve immune tolerance- we may be able to gain the upper hand

Question 13

three epidemiological trends (1)

Answer 13

in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and neutropenic patients with acute leukaemia: increase in incidences of invasive holds e..g aspergillum. Anti-fungals more specific to aspergillum and other holds than candida now

Question 14

three epidemiological trends (2)

Answer 14

increase in incidence of non candida albiancs, therefore reduced use of fluconazole due to reduced susceptibility of the yeasts to this drug

Question 15

resistance to

Answer 15

echinocandins is also being observed

Question 16

three epidemiological trends (3)

Answer 16

antimicrobial pressure exerted b the use of broad spectrum anti fungal agents such as voriconazole has precipitated the emergence of invasive mould infections caused by zygomycetes class of fungi