Fungus Flashcards
What fungus can cause a pulmonary infection that resembles bacterial pneumonia?
Blastomycosis
What fungus can cause a pulmonary infection that resembles TB?
Histoplasmosis
Is Blastomycosis self-limiting?
Usually not
Can Histoplasmosis be self-limiting?
Yes
Healthy outdoor men get this. M:F ratio = 9:1
Blastomycosis
How do you contract blastomycosis?
Inhaling spores from soil
Etiology of Histoplastmosis
Inhaling soil that contains bird or bat droppings
SE and S Central US
Blastomycosis
Ohio and Mississippi River Valley
Hisoplasmosis
Tx for Histoplasmosis or Blastomycosis
Itroconazole or Amphotericin B (IV) if life threatening
How long does it take to Cx fungus?
6-8 weeks
Candida Albicans is?
Normal flora of vagina, intestines, mouth
Candidiasis etiology
Opportunistic overgrowth of normal candida albicans b/c competing flora has been eliminated
Dx Candida
KOH –> yeast / pseudohyphae on KOH
Tx Candida
Nystatin (topical), Itraconazole (systemic), Amphotericin B (powerful!)
Where does Cryptococcus disseminate?
CNS
What does Cryptococcus cause?
Fungal Meningitis
Where is Cryptococcus found?
soil; world wide
Dx for Cryptococcus?
Gram stain CSF or blood using India Ink –> capsular polysaccharide antigen
Tx for Cryptococcus?
Amphoterecin B
Organism that causes Mucormycosis?
Rhizopus Oryzae
Where is Mucormycosis found?
bread and fruit mold; world wide
Most deadly of the fungal infections?
Mucormycosis (30-50% mortality)
Where does mucormycosis invade?
Sinuses, orbits, lungs
Dx for mucormycosis?
Biopsy w/histologic exam –> broad branching non-septate hyphae
Tx for mucormycosis?
Remove necrotic tissue & Amphotericin B (IV)!
