Fungi

Question 1

Which are the medically important yeasts (and yeast like fungi)?

Answer 1

Candida spp
Cryptococcus spp
Pneumocystis spp

Question 2

What are the medically important superficial fungi?

Answer 2

Dermatophytes (Tinea spp, malassezia furfur), aspergillus flavus, and yeast

Question 3

What are the medically important deep or systemic mycoses?

Answer 3

Histoplasma capsulatum
Coccidiodes imitis

(Almost all have rare potential to become invasive/deep)

Question 4

What are the medically important opportunistic fungi?

Answer 4

Candida spp
Cryptococcus spp
Aspergillus spp
Pneumocystis spp

Question 5

What are the most common kinds of infections can Candida spp cause?

Answer 5

Systemic infections
Vulvovaginal candidiasis
Oropharyngeal colonization

Question 6

Where is Cryptococcus spp usually found?

Answer 6

Associated with bird droppings (environmental yeast)

Question 7

What are predisposing factors for an infection with Cryptococcus spp?

Answer 7

Occurs in immnocompromised hosts
-AIDS defining disease
The Vancouver Island Strain can infect immunocompetent hosts

Question 8

What are predisposing factors for an infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii

Answer 8

Occurs in immunocompromised hosts

-AIDS defining disease

Question 9

What would be the findings on a chest X-ray of a lung infection with Pneumocystis jirovecii?

Answer 9

Diffuse bilateral infiltrates.

Question 10

What are the syndromes associated with Aspergillosis spp. infection?

Answer 10

Allergic syndromes- Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis, Allergic sinusitis
Colonization and Superficial syndromes
Direct inoculation
Invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis
Tracheobronchitis
Sinusitis
Disseminated Infection

Question 11

Which class of medically important fungi are referred to as “lid-lifters”?

Answer 11

Murmycosis

Question 12

What group of medically important fungi are classified as contaminant level 3?

Answer 12

Dimorphic Fungi (Histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis, Coccidiodomycosis)

Question 13

What can predispose neonates to Malassezia furfur infection?

Answer 13

Administering Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) -> high in lipids

Question 14

What dimorphic fungi is most commonly contracted through hunting and trapping activities?

Answer 14

Blastomycosis

Question 15

What dimorphic fungi is most commonly contracted through bat or chicken droppings?

Answer 15

Histoplasmosis

Question 16

What dimorphic fungi is most commonly contracted in desert-like environments?

Answer 16

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever)

Question 17

Yeast replicate by which method?

Answer 17

Budding

Question 18

Molds replicate by which method?

Answer 18

Sexual or asexual spores. The fruiting body is called a conidia

Question 19

The microscopic extensions of a growing mold are called?

Answer 19

Hyphae

Question 20

What does an Aspergilloma look like on a chest x-ray?

Answer 20

A walled off granuloma with cavitation, similar to that of a TB granuloma.

Question 21

How is a health host infected with Fusarium?

Answer 21

Direct traumatic inoculation.

Question 22

What are the clinical infections Fusarium can cause?

Answer 22

Keratitis, onychomycosis, endophthalmitis, skin and MSK infections as well as disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients.

Question 23

What is the clinical presentation of a Fusarium infection?

Answer 23

Fever and myalgias unresponsive to antibacterial antibiotics

Disseminated infections can include skin lesions in 60-80% of cases. These lesions start as papules but become necrotic.

Question 24

Murcormycoses’ hyphae (once established in the lungs) has affinity for _____

Answer 24

Blood vessels

Question 25

Murcormycosis infections can be found in what kind of patients?

Answer 25

Severely immunocompromised
Diabetes Mellitus
Trauma
Solid organ or hematopoetic transplants

Question 26

What is the manifestation of acute disseminated histoplasmosis?

Answer 26

Rapid, debilitating, GI symptoms. bone marrow suppression, hepatospenomegaly.

Question 27

What is the manifestation of chronic disseminated histoplasmosis disease?

Answer 27

Sub acute course taking about 10-12 months.
Low-grade fever
Weight loss
weakness
hepatospenomegaly
mild hematological abnormalities
focal disease

Question 28

What is the manifestation of chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis disease?

Answer 28

Clinically and radiologically resembles TB
granulomatous
Periods of guiescence and sometimes spontaneous cure

Question 29

What are the symptoms of a Blastomyces infection?

Answer 29

fever
chills
cough
muscle aches
joint pain
chest pain

Question 30

What is the manifestation of a primary Coccidiomycosis infection?

Answer 30

Flu-like symptoms and self limited in 60%

Can form a granuloma indistinguishable to TB

Question 31

What is the incubation period of Coccidiomycosis?

Answer 31

10-16 days

Question 32

Ringworm is what category of fungus?

Answer 32

Dermatophyte (Tinea spp)

Question 33

What part of the body does tinea infect?

Answer 33

It colonizes the stratum corneum

Question 34

How are Tinea spp infections classified?

Answer 34

By anatomical location.
Tinea capitis (scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes)
Tinea pedis (foot)
Tinea unguium/onchomycosis (toenails)
Tinea corporis (skin)
Tinea barbae (beard)
Tinea cruris (groin)
Tinea manum (hands)
Tinea versicolor (malassezia furfur)

Question 35

What is the clinical manifesation of Tinea versicolor (malassezia furfur)?

Answer 35

Discolouration of skin (loss of pigment)