Fungi Flashcards
Cryptococcus neoformans
Dimorphic fungus
Grows as heavily encapsulated yeast that infects respiratory tract initially
Can spread from respiratory tract to the brain and meninges
Zygomyces
Opportunistic fungal infection of upper or lower respiratory tract in immunocompromised patients
Branch at right angles
Can be fatal if infection spreads to brain
Pneumocystis carnii
Ubiquitous fungus that almost all have Abs to, but infects tissue of immunosuppressed patients
Was seen in AIDS patients
Pityriasis Versicolor
Superficial mycoses
Scaly patches on discolored skin diagnosed with skin scraping and KOH
Treat with topical antifungals
Piedra
Superficial mycoses in hair shaft
Visualized under UV lamp
Trichosporon
Treat by shaving hair and topical antifungal
Treatment of cutaneous mycoses
Tinea corporis and pedis-topical antifungals (clotrimazole)
Tinea capitis and barbae-systemic treatment (Griseofulvin)
Tinea unguium-topical or oral treatment depending on severity
Chromoblastomycosis
Subcutaneous mycoses
On legs and feet
Slow progressive infection that starts as scaly and itchy before becoming tumor-like abscesses
Diagnose with microscopic examination of scrapings
Treat with surgical debridement and intraconazole
Mycetomas
Subcutaneous mycoses on legs and feet that starts as hard subsurface nodules before becoming ulcerated lesions
Can spread to bone
Diagnose with microscopic examination
Treat with surgical debridement and anti-fungals
Mucormycoses
Opportunistic fungal infection
Nasopharyngeal and pulmonary infection
Rapid tissue necrosis that can spread to brain can be fatal
Treat with anti-fungals and surgical debridement
Pneumocystis jirovecci
Opportunistic mycoses
Major cause of mortality of AIDS patients until prophylactic regimens developed
Inflammation, fever, cough, difficulty breathing
Aka pneumocystis pneumonia
Treat with trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole
