Mycology

Question 1

Which four endemic mycoses can mimic TB?

Answer 1

1. Histoplasmosis
2. Coccidioidomycosis
3. Paracocidioidomycosis
4. Blastomycosis

Question 2

What is a dimorphic fungus?

Answer 2

Lives in two forms: cold = mold (37°C), heat = yeast

Question 3

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

“Spaghetti and meatball” appearance on KOH prep

Answer 3

Malassezia furfur

Question 4

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Contains cancer-causing aflatoxins

Answer 4

Aspergillus flavus

Question 5

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Dimorphic fungus living on rose thorns and splinters

Answer 5

Sporothrix schenckii

Question 6

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Urease (+), stains with India ink, and latex agglutination (+)

Answer 6

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 7

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Organism found inside macrophages; spread in pigeon and bat droppings

Answer 7

Histoplasma capsulatum

Question 8

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Budding yeast, pseudohyphae; germ tubes at 37°C

Answer 8

Candida albicans

Question 9

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Wide angle (90°) branching of irregular nonseptated hyphae

Answer 9

Mucor and Rhizopus sp.

Question 10

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Big, broad-based budding dimorphic fungus

Answer 10

Blastomycosis

B-B-B-B-B (Big, Broad-Based Budding Blasto)

Question 11

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

45° angle branching and septated hyphae; fruiting bodies

Answer 11

Aspergillus sp.

Question 12

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Narrow-based unequal budding yeasts with capsular halo

Answer 12

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 13

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

Endemic to Ohio and Mississippi river valleys

Answer 13

Histoplasma capsulatum

Question 14

”Flying-saucer” appearance of silver stain

Answer 14

Pneumocystis carinii (also P. Jirovici)

Question 15

Name the fungus associated with each of the following statements:

”Captain’s wheel” appearance; endemic to rural Latin America

Answer 15

Paracoccidioidomycosis

Question 16

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Rose gardener disease with ascending lymphangitis

Answer 16

Sporothrix schenckii—potassium iodide

Question 17

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Tinea nigra

Answer 17

Phaeoannellomyces werneckii—topical salicylic acid

Question 18

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Thrush in an immunocompromised patient

Answer 18

Candida albicans—nystatin (swish and swallow) and amphotericin B if systemic infection

Question 19

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

San Joaquin (desert valley) fever; endemic to southwest United States, California

Answer 19

Coccidioides immitis—fluconazole and amphotericin B

Question 20

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Interstitial pneumonia of the immunocompromised

Answer 20

Pneumocystis carinii (or P. jiroveci)—TMP-sulfamethoxazole (SMX) or pentamidine (prophylaxis when CD4+200 cells/mL)

Question 21

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Tinea (pityriasis) versicolor

Answer 21

Malassezia furfur—topical miconazole or selenium sulfide

Question 22

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Meningitis from pigeon droppings

Answer 22

Cryptococcus neoformans—amphotericin + flucytosine for 2 weeks followed by fluconazole

Question 23

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Tinea cruris/capitis/corporis/unguium/pedis

Answer 23

Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, or Microsporum sp.—topical miconazole, oral griseofulvin for capitis and unguium

Question 24

For each of the f ollowing diseases, name the fungus/yeast responsible and the drug of choice:

Fungus ball in lungs or invasive disease

Answer 24

Aspergillus fumigatus—voriconazole