Fungal and Parasitic infections I Flashcards
What organism is responsible for the majority of fungal CNS infections?
Cryptococcal meningitis.
What classical symptom do all clinical fungal infections first present with?
All clinical fungal CNS infections begin as a pulmonary infection.
Where is coccidios immitis indigenous to?
This organism is mostly found in the San Joaquin Valley of California or Southern Arizona and follows a rain-drought pattern.
Following inhalation, coccidios immitis transforms into what sort of structure
Coccidios will transform into a spherule, a multinucleated structure.
What is the treatment plan for coccidiomycosis?
Amphotericin B regiment works well.
Is cryptococcus neoformans Dimorphic?
It is NOT dimorphic and appears as an encapsulated yeast that is view able with the india ink stain.
Where is cryptococcus neoformans most typically found in the environment?
It is commonly found in the soil, and especially in pidgeon droppings/ other bird droppings.
What is the treatment regimen for Cryptococcosis?
Longterm 6-10 week treatment of amphotericin B combined with fluorocytosine or fluconazole.
If there is a recurring fungal meningitis infection in an AIDS pt it is most likely what fungus?
Cryptococcus neoformans.
What are the predisposing factors for contracting an infection by a zygomycoses
Predisposing factors include immunosupression, diabetes, and burns.
Rhinocerebral zygomycosis is most commonly seen in what demographic of people?
Most commonly seen in diabetic patients with the infection originating in the sinuses and then invading into neighboring tissues.
What are the clinical/observable characteristics of zygoycete species?
Non-septate broad hyphae branching in 90 degree patterns.
Sporangia bearing sporangiospores.
What is the treatment plan for a patient with zygomycosis?
Amphotericin B
What sort of CNS infection does entamoeba histolytica cause?
Typically will cause brain abscesses.
What sort of CNS infection does Trypanosoma brucei cause?
Sleeping sickness.
What sort of CNS infection does Plasmodium falciparum cause?
Cerebral malaria.
Acanthamoeba, Naelgleria, and Balamuthia are what sort of organism commonly found in what environment?
These are all opportunistic or accidental parasites of man (amoeba) and are found in fresh water. Thought to be accidental infections of man.
What microbe would you most likely contract through use of a neti pot?
Naelgleria fowleri, This is the most common cause of amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM)
A patient who ends up with meningitis shortly after swimming in warm water is likely to have caught what bug?
What would you treat this pt with?
Naelgleria fowleri.
Treat with Amphotericin B!
How is Primary amebic meningoencephalitis and Granuomatous amoebic encephalitis differentiated?
GAE is typically seen as a slowly developing ulcerative lesion in the brain (1-2 weeks longer than PAM)
What buggers cause Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis?
Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia
How do congenital Toxoplasmosis infections differ in the first trimester vs the third trimester?
During the First trimester of pregnancy the pt only has a 25% chance of fetal infection however it will be much more sever.
During the Third trimester there is a 65% chance of contracting Toxoplasmosis but it will be far less severe and possibly even asymptomatic.
What serological test results would display an acute infection in a mother by toxoplasmosis?
IgM or rising IgG titer would indicate an acute infection.
What antibodies would be serologically observed in an infant that received a congenital infection with toxoplasmosis?
Newborn IgM would indicate congenital infection however, not all infected newborns are IgM positive.
What specific version of a microbe is ingested leading to cysticercosis of Taenia solium?
When the embryonated eggs are ingested systemic infection occurs in comparison to ingestion of encysted larvae leading to intestinal disease.
If you have an immigrant who came from mexico and is frequently around pigs what sort of infection would you suspect is causing meningitis presenting with seizures.
Infection by ingestion of Taenium soleus eggs.
Toxocara canis and T. cati are most often aquired through what vector?
Dogs in the US that shed eggs in stool.
Humans then accidentally ingest the eggs within the stool leading to Toxocara.
What symptoms do visceral larval migrans cause?
These are shed by dogs and cats and the eggs are ingested.
The larvae will then migrate forming granulamatous lesions in the liver, spleen, lung, and eyes. Presenting with eosinophilia.
