Fungi - Systemic Mycoses Flashcards
Histoplasma capsulatum
lab tests
The Historians Cave
Macrophages w/ intracellular oval bodies.
Histoplasma is MUCH SMALLER than RBC.
Diagnosis through KOH, rapid serum**, or **urine antigen test.
Dimorphic (mold in cold, yeast in beast).
Histoplasma capsulatum
source
The Historians Cave
Bird or Bat droppings
Caves or Chicken coops
Mississippi (His on the Mis!) and Ohio river valleys (Midwestern US)
Transmitted through respiratory
Histoplasma capsulatum
signs and symptoms
The Historians Cave
- Pneumonia
- Granulomas (can look like TB) w/ calcified nodes and nodules in the hilar region.
- Erythema nodosum (painful red nodules, usually found on shin)
- Hepatosplenomegaly (In the immunocomprised) because the fungus targets the reticuloendothelial system that has a lot of macrophages (which are prevalent in the liver and spleen!)
Histoplasma capsulatum
treatment
The Historians Cave
For local and mild infections: Azole drugs
For systemic infections: AMP B
Coccidioides immitis
lab tests
Presidio San Joaquin
Non-budding Spherules packed w/ endospores (not yeast!) in the lungs.
Coccidioides are LARGER than RBC.
Diagnosis through KOH.
IgM** against Cocci** indicates recent infection.
Dimorphic (mold in cold, spherule of endospore in the body! NOT yeast !)
Coccidioides immitis
source
Presidio San Joaquin
Dust
Very common after earth quakes.
CA and SW US
Transmitted through inhalation
Coccidioides immitis
signs and symptoms
Presidio San Joaquin
- Asymptomatic in most
- May see pneumonia, knee pain, and fever
- Radiology may be unremarkable, or may show cavaties and / or nodules
- Erythema nodosum (painful red nodules, usually found on shin)
- In the immunocomprised it can spread to the bone, or cause meningitis
Coccidioides immitis
treatment
Presidio San Joaquin
For local and mild infections: Azole drugs
For systemic infections: AMP B
Blastomycoses dermatidis
lab tests
The blast of the cannon
Broad Based Budding
Blastomycoses is typically the same size as RBC’s.
Diagnosis through KOH, or with a urine antigen test.
Dimorphic (mold in cold, yeast in beast).
Blastomycoses dermatidis
source
The blast of the cannon
Great lakes and Ohio river valley
Southern and Southeastern US
Transmitted through spores via inhalation
Blastomycoses dermatidis
signs and symptoms
The blast of the cannon
- Patchy alveolar infiltrate on XRAY (“haziness”)
- Granulomatous lesions in the lungs
- Systemic infections in the immunocomprised → Osteomyelitis, damages skin and bones.
Blastomycoses dermatidis
treatment
The blast of the cannon
For local and mild infections: Itraconazole
For systemic infections: AMP B
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
lab tests
Piratas del Sur (south)
Multiple buds radiating out from a central vacuole
“Captains wheel” appearance
Paracoccidioides are a LOT LARGER than RBC’s.
Dimorphic (mold in cold, yeast in beast).
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
source
Piratas del Sur (south)
South America
Transmitted through respiratory droplets
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
signs and symptoms
Piratas del Sur (south)
- Lymphadenopathy in chains of lymph nodes in cervical region.
- Progressive to lungs, causing granulomas
- Mucosal ulcers and cutaneous lesions in the upper mouth and gums → small hemorrhages with ragged borders
- Starts in upper respiratory and moves down, can also be seen in axiallary or inguinal lymph nodes