Fungal infections Flashcards
Who is (usually) affected by fungal infections?
Immunocompromised patients; fungal pathogens are opportunistic and so cannot cause disease in healthy patients
What is the most common type of candidiasis?
Mucocutaneous candidiasis; skin infection
What is the most common cause of invasive candidiasis?
Antibiotic use
Describe the clinical features of invasive candidiasis
Clinically identical to bacterial blood stream infection (bacteraemia)
Often disseminate to kidneys causing renal impairment
What type of organism is candida?
Yeast
Give two examples of candida species
Candida albicans
Candida auris
Which organism is most commonly responsible for causing fungal meningitis?
Cryptococcus neoformans (Cryptococcal meningitis)
What type of fungus is aspergillus?
Filamentous fungus
How is aspergillus transmitted?
Inhalation of airborne spores
What type of disease does aspergillus most commonly cause?
Respiratory infections
What complication can arise from chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, particularly in patients with TB or sarcoidosis?
Pulmonary aspergilloma; fungal growth inside lung cavities
Fungus is capable of invading, and is angioinvasive so can cause haemoptysis
How is cryptococcal meningitis diagnosed?
Indian-ink staining of CSF
Describe the clinical course of cryptococcal meningitis
Subacute meningoencephalitis (rather then an acute meningitis) after a latent infection.
What type of fungus is cryptococcus neoformans?
Encapsulated yeast and an obligate aerobe.
Give four classes of antifungal agents
Polyene (e.g. Amphotericin B)
Azoles
Echinocandins
Allylamines
