Fungi I Flashcards
“True” Pathogenic Fungi
Thermal Dimorphs
Coccidioides immitis
Histoplasma capsulatum
“Opportunistic” Fungi
Yeasts: Candida
Mycelia: Aspergillus, Tinea-associated fungi
Protozoan-Like:Pneumocystis jiroveci
Histoplasmosis Transmission
Inhalational:
Bat, bird guano spores in soil aerosolized inhaled
Alveolar macrophages phagocytose (but don’t destory) spores; spread throughout body
Young/middle-aged adult males
Histoplasmosis Symptoms
90-95% of infected individuals asymptomatic If acute symptoms seen: Mild Flu-like Self-resolving Chronic forms (rare): Chronic pulmonary Progressive disseminated (systemic) Ocular
Histoplasmosis Treatment
Most: none
Antifungal medications:
Polyenes (amphotericin B)
Azoles
Histoplasmosis Prevention & Control
Transmission protection in bat and bird habitats
3% formaldehyde spray kills spores
Dust control
Valley Fever Symptoms
Rare forms (progressive, disseminated, or fatal) 5%
Pneumonic symptoms like Histoplasma
35%
Asymptomatic or very mild
60%
Coccidioides immitis
Dimorphic like Histoplasma
Transmission: like Histoplasma, but from small mammal feces
Treatment: like Histoplasma
Prevention & control: like Histoplasma
Species That Causes “Tinea”
Fungal: Arthrodermataceae:
Epidermophyton spp.
Microsporum spp.
Trichophyton spp.
Vary geographically
Difficult to distinguish by symptoms alone
Tinea Transmission
Highly contagious
Direct or indirect contact
Common Tinea Symptoms
SKIN RASHES:
Ring-shaped
Scaly/flaky and red
Pruritic
Sometimes deep, fissured
NAIL INFECTION:
Infection is in nail bed
Nails: Thicken Warp Change Color Disintegrate
Painful
Tinea Treatment
Allylanines
Griseofulvin (largely abandoned)
Drills holes; nail removal
Azoles
Tinea Prevention & Control
Physical avoidance: best but impossible
Personal hygiene (clean, dry skin)
Clean environment (facilities, equipment)
Avoid swimming pools, bounce houses, etc.
