Fungal Parasites Flashcards
Following hyphae, what branches off into a web?
Mycelium
What organ system are parasitic fungi most commonly associated with?
Skin
What organs or tissues can intermittently harbor Candida albicans
Skin, colon, vaginal canal, mucous membranes
What are the characteristics of Candida albicans?
Aggressive opportunist
&
Member of various microfloras
What do you opportunists look for specifically?
Suppressed immune system
And/or
Loss of competition/competing with microflora
What keeps candida numbers low?
- ) your immune system
2. ) competition from other microflora (ex: Lactobacillus)
What is the name when fungi spread and create long strands
Hyphae
What are the two localized infections of Candida albicans?
- ) vaginal tract
2. ) oral thrush
The vaginal tract is what type of infection?
A yeast infection
What’s the demographic of the vaginal tract?
Reproductive age females
- broad-spectrum antibiotics increases the risk due to loss of competitive lactobacillus
Broad-spectrum antibiotics increase the risk due to…
Loss of competitive Lactobacillus
What happens if you take a broad-spectrum antibiotic for a yeast infection?
You’ll wipe out all the lactobacillus microflora and get a chance of a yeast infection
In regards to Lactobacillus why is low pH necessary?
Low pH inhibits other growth of bacteria and keeps the pH balanced
What two forces keep candida populations and check?
Lactobacillus – low pH
Your immune system– Having a strong immune system is important
Immunocompromise individuals are at risk of developing severe Candida infections because…
They have severely low count of T cells that are not capable to fight off the infection
What’s the demographic of oral thrush?
Newborns and AIDS patients
– Lack of immune system or microflora
Explain why AIDS patients are at high risk of developing severe Candida infections?
Lack of immune system, don’t make enough antibodies
Explain why newborns are at high risk of developing severe Candida infections
Lack of immune system and/or microflora
-lack of anti-bodies and other competitive pathogens in the microflora
Describe the manifestation went Candida colonizes the vaginal tract or oral cavity/esophagus
In AIDS patients they are likely to get thrush and therefore swallow the fungal spores into the Esophagus.
- it then colonizes and creates Hyphae embedding into the esophageal walls
What groups or risk factors predispose someone to colonization of candida in the oral cavity and the vaginal tract?
Individuals that have a weak immune system and have no microflora to compete
Which individuals are most susceptible to Candida sepsis?
Is it fatal?
Immunosuppressive patients such as AIDS
Yes!
What’s the MAJOR portal of entry of candida sepsis?
The esophagus
If you are already immunosuppressed you’re probably at risk at having thrush and therefore swallowing large quantities of spores
What’s another portal of entry for Candida sepsis?
The colon
Candida sepsis mimics what type of sepsis?
Gram - sepsis (bacterial sepsis)
