Fungal infections Flashcards
What is it important to know when infected with candida?
- Previous azole therapy
- Species
- Susceptibility
What are the 4 types of Candiasis?
Catheter related
Acute Disseminated
Chronic Disseminated
Deep organ
What type of organism is Aspergillus?
Mould
- Common environmental pathogen
- Tends to cause pulmonary infection
What type of organism is Candida?
Yeast
- Normal gut flora
What are the main complications associated with Pulmonary aspergillosis?
- Raging pneumonia
- Dissemination to CNS
- Local invasion into heart/vessels/etc
What type of organism is Cryptococcus?
Yeast
- Can lead to pulmonary or invasive CNS disease
When is a diagnosis ‘proven’?
Fungal cause is grown
When is a diagnosis ‘probable’?
1x host, clinical and mycological
When is a diagnosis ‘possible’?
Less criteria than ‘probable’
What are the main host factors that need to be considered in diagnosis?
- Neutropenia
- Fever unresponsible to broad spectrum AB
- Use of immunosuppressants
- HIV/AIDS
- Recent prolonged use of corticosteroids
What are the main issues associated with Itraconazole?
- Hepatoxicity
- Heart failure risk (negative inotrope)
- Affected by enzyme inducers
Which antifungal (hint an azole) has superior CNS penetration?
Voriconazole
associated with visual disturbances upon admin
How does Flucytosine work?
Nucleoside analogue (pyrimidine)
- Resistance is a large problem if used alone
- Converted to 5-FU intracellularly
- Bone marrow suppression
Which antifungal is normally used for ‘simple’ infections?
Fluconazole
Which antifungals are normally used for serious infections?
Lipid formulation amphoterocin
Echinicandin
Consider voriconazole for CNS infections
