Fungi Flashcards
Fungus that forms branched hyphae at 25 C and cigar-shaped yeast at 37 C
**Sporothrix schenckii - **Rose Gardener’s disease (SQ nodules); treat with oral potassium iodide and antifungals
Fungus that forms branched hyphae at 25 C and spherule containing infective endospores at 37 C
Coccidioides immitis - arthrospores form in soil and spread via inhalation (pneumonia, granulomas); treat with amphotericin B if CNS not involved; treat with fluconazole if CNS involved
Fungus that forms branched hyphae with tuberculated macronidia at 25 C and yeast cells within macrophages at 37 C
Histoplasma capsulatum - spores from bird droppings spread via inhalation; severe granulomatous disease in immunocompromised (affecting adrenals, liver, spleen)
Fungus that forms hyphae with small conidia at 25 C and thick-walled budding yeast at 37 C
Blastomyces dermatitidis - spores from soil spread via inhalation; pneumonia, granulomatous infection, ulcerative skin lesions; treat with itraconazole for meningeal infection and amphotericin B for nonmeningeal infection
Similar to paracoccidioidomycosis, which is endemic to Latin America and has yeast with multiple buds (forms “captain’s wheel” formation)
Fungus that forms pseudohyphae and budding yeast
Candida albicans
Fungus whose polysacchardie capsule stains red with mucicarmine and does not stain with India ink; also detected with latex agglutination test
Cryptococcus neoformans - yeast spread from pigeon droppings via inhalation; treat meningitis (“soap-bubble lesions”) with amphotericin B + flucytosine; ppx with fluconazole; may also cause pulmonary disease
Fungus with cysts containing dark oval bodies visualized with Silver stain
Pneumocystis jirovecii - treat with TMP-SMX or Pentamidine; PPx with TMP-SMV, pentamidine, dapsone, atovaquone
Fungus with radiating spores and hyphae that branch at 45 degree angles
Aspergillus fumigatus - spores from decaying vegetation transmitted via inhalation; spores can stimulate IgE response, form aspergillomas in lung cavities, or cause pulmonary infarctions
Aspergillus flavus - secretes aflatoxin (hepatocellular carcinoma)
Fungus with “spaghetti and meatball appearance”
Malassezia furfur - causes tinea versicolor (hypo/hyper-pigmented patches) via production of acids via lipid degredation that damage melanocytes; occurs in hot and humid weather; treat with topical miconazole or selenium sulfide
Fungus with hyphae that branch at 90 degree angles
Mucor and Rhizopus - Mucormycosis, mainly affecting ketoacidotic and leukemic patients, causes rhinocerebral frontal lobe abscesses and black necrotic eschar on face. Treat with amphotericin B
