Introduction to Fungi and fungal diseases (B)

Question 1

What are fungi a major cause of?

Answer 1

non-fatal diseases

Question 2

What are examples of non-fatal diseases caused by fungi?

Answer 2

1. athletes foot (Epidermophyton, Microsporum and Trichophyton spp.)
2. thrush (C. albicans)
3. Pityriasis versicolor (Malassezia spp) - dandruff

Question 3

When do fungi cause life threatening diseases?

Answer 3

acting as opportunistic pathogens of immunocompromised

Question 4

When do Candida spp. cause fatal diseases in patients?

Answer 4

infect deep organs of patients with various types of immune dysfunction e.g. abdominal surgery, burns etc (often ICU)

Question 5

When do Aspergillus spp. cause fatal disease in patients?

Answer 5

infect deep organs of patients undergoing e.g. chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation

Question 6

What is aspergillus infection?

Answer 6

infection of the lungs

Question 7

What can cause immunosuppression?

Answer 7

1. iatrogenic - steroids, anti-cancer therapy, solid-organs transplantation
2. Disease processes - AIDS, leukaemia, endocrinopathies

or combo of both

Question 8

Where are candida spp. commensal to>

Answer 8

GI tract

Question 9

When does candida spp. cause systemic infection?

Answer 9

get into bloodstream

Question 10

What is the disease caused by candida spp. called?

Answer 10

candidiasis

Question 11

What structures can yeast firm?

Answer 11

budding yeast type growth to a filamentous- type growth

Question 12

What is the benefit of hyphae to the yeast?

Answer 12

the are good at invading the host

Question 13

What is an oral infection of candida spp called?

Answer 13

oral candidosis/Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC)

Question 14

Why are the rates of of oral candidosis increasing?

Answer 14

more people are having immunocompromising treatments and surgeries

Question 15

What is acute oral candidiasis associated with?

Answer 15

severe immunological impairment

e.g. HIV
can be used as a predictor of clinical progression of AIDs

Question 16

What are local pre-disposing factors for oral candidosis?

Answer 16

antibiotics
dentures
local corticosteroids
radiotherapy

Question 17

What are general pre-disposing factors for oral candosis?

Answer 17

smoking
nutrient deficiency e.g. iron
drugs
endocrine e.g. diabetes
immunodeficiency
nutrient deficiency e.g. iron
smoking

Question 18

How will OPC present itself clinically?

Answer 18

white plaques that resemble milk curd form on the buccal mucosa and less commonly on the tongue, gums, the palate or the pharynx.

Question 19

What are the symptoms of OPC?

Answer 19

may be absent or include burning or dryness of the mouth, loss of taste, and pain on swallowing

Question 20

What class of oral candidosis is shown here?

Answer 20

Pseudomembranous

Question 21

What class of oral candidosis is shown here?

Answer 21

Hyperplastic

Question 22

What class of oral candidosis is shown here?

Answer 22

Erythematous

Question 23

What class of oral candidosis is shown here?

Answer 23

Angular cheilitis

Question 24

What yeast infection is shown here?

Answer 24

oral candida albicans

Question 25

What yeast infection is shown here?

Answer 25

HIV-associated Candida infection

Question 26

When would erythematous infection occur?

Answer 26

dentures not being cleaned
poor oral hygiene

these fungi can also form biofilms

Question 27

In what form are candida resistant to drugs?

Answer 27

when they form biofilms

Question 28

When would chronic mucocutaneous candida infection form?

Answer 28

can arise in individuals with an unusual combination of endocrine and immune dysfunction