Molds of medical importance

Question 1

Examination of the hyphae of molds enables classification into 3 groups. What are they?

Answer 1

1 - Septate, unpigmented hyphae
2 - Septate brown pigmented hyphae
3 - Aseptate, wide hyphae

Question 2

The majority of medically important molds are in which group?

Answer 2

Septate, unpigmented hyphae (hyaline)

Question 3

Low fungi, sometimes called ___ ______, are in this group.

Answer 3

pin molds

Aseptate wide hyphae

Question 4

We are moving away from culture based diagnosis of molds to what?

Answer 4

multiplex real time pcr

Question 5

What does hyaline mean?

Answer 5

Glass

Question 6

The septate brown pigmented hyphae group are also called what? What does the name mean?

Answer 6

Dematiaceous - earthy

Question 7

What order to the pin molds fall under?

Answer 7

Mucorales

Question 8

What are septa?

Answer 8

Basically dividers in the hyphae

Question 9

Produces smoky, gray/green fuzzy colonies and can cause invasive infections in severely immunocompromised patients, especially with prolonged neutropenia.

Answer 9

Aspergillus (asperge = vert)

Question 10

The mortality dye to invasive infections in the immunocompromised (esp. with prolonged neutropenia) is around what?

Answer 10

> 50%

Question 11

What can Aspergillus cause in immunocompetent patients?

Answer 11

Chronic sinusitis and aspergilloma

Question 12

What is aspergilloma?

Answer 12

fungus ball in pre-existing pulmonary cavity

Question 13

Where would one possibly encounter Aspergillus spores?

Answer 13

If composting grass in the summertime.

Question 14

This aspergillus can cause allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in asthmatics and CF patients.

Answer 14

Aspergillus fumigatus

Question 15

May infect peanuts. Produces this toxin.

Answer 15

Aspergillus flavus

aflatoxin

Question 16

What type of diagnostic test could be used to determine if Aspergillus is growing in the tissues?
What is seen?

Answer 16

Biopsy and silver-based stain

See repeated 45° branching of the hyphae which all end up going in the same direction

Question 17

Why was Aspergillus fumigatus named as such?

Answer 17

It’s sporangium looks like a fumigator

Question 18

Aspergillus flavus can infect ______ and this can lead to liver ________.
it’s head looks like _______.

Answer 18

peanuts
liver
medusa

Question 19

Rapidly growing greenish colony which you often see on moldy bread.

Answer 19

Penicillium

Question 20

This mold is the source of penicillin and there is one invasive species. What is it?

Answer 20

Penicillium

Penicillium marneffei

Question 21

What animals is Penicillium marnefei assocaited with?

Answer 21

bamboo rats in vietnam

Question 22

Dermatophytes tend to the infect what?

How is the resulting infection named?

Answer 22

Tend to infect the skin and skin structures of the body.
Tinea means a dermatophyte infection, the body site is then the second work.
e.g. tinea capitis (dermatophyte infection of the head)

Question 23

What are the three genera of dermatophytes?

Answer 23

Trichophyton spp.
Microsporum spp.
Epidermophyton floccosum

Question 24

What is the correct term for Athlete’s foot?

How can someone get it?

Answer 24

Tinea pedis

Must be acquired by going barefoot, but then have to encase foot in dark, moist environment (shoe).

Question 25

Where is Tinea pedis mostly picked up?

Answer 25

In places with high spore counts - e.g. gymnasia, pools, etc.

Question 26

Where does tinea pedis usually start?

Answer 26

Between the little toe and ring toe, since there are less anti-mycolic acids there.

Question 27

What is the term for profuse spread of tinea pedis?

Answer 27

Mocassin foot

Question 28

What is the medical term for ringworm?

Answer 28

Tinea corporis

Question 29

What does the ringworm rash look like?

Answer 29

circular appearance with central scaling and healing