OPPORTUNISTIC INFECTIONS

Question 1

Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, or Parasites that cause infections in immunocompromised patients

Answer 1

Opportunistic Infections

Question 2

T/F
Opportunistic Infections are also part of the normal flora but they usually cause infections

Answer 2

FALSE
Opportunistic Infections are also part of the normal flora but they DO NOT usually cause infections

Question 3

Examples of immunocompromised patients in Opportunistic Infections

Answer 3

• HIV patients
• Patients who take immunosuppressive drugs
• Elderly
• Patients who undergo transplant

Question 4

Candida albicans
- ____: thrush
- ____: vulvovaginitis
- ____: nail infection
- ____: cuticle infection

Answer 4

Oral moniliasis
Vaginal moniliasis
Onychomycosis
Paronychomycosis

Question 5

Laboratory Diagnosis of Candida (GC)

Answer 5

1. Germ tube
2. CHROM agar

Question 6

hyphae-like extensions of young yeast cells showing parallel sides, are aseptate, and will not constrict at point of origin (Candida albicans, C. dubliniensis)

Answer 6

True germ tube

Question 7

looks like germ tubes but with septate and constricted at point oforigin (all Candida exhibit pseudohyphae except Candida glabrata)

Answer 7

Pseudohyphae

Question 8

uses enzymatic reactions to differentiate Candida spp.

Answer 8

CHROM agar

Question 9

• encapsulated yeast cells in bird and bat droppings
• Causes meningitis

Answer 9

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 10

Cryptococcus neoformans:
India ink
Gram stain

Answer 10

India ink: Capsule
Gram stain: starbust pattern

Question 11

Laboratory Diagnosis of C. neoformans
Urease and Inositol:
Nitrate:
Media:

Answer 11

Urease and Inositol: (+)
Nitrate: (-)
Media: SDA without cycloheximide and birdseed/Niger’s seed/Staib’s

Question 12

T/F
birdseed/Niger’s seed/Staib’s has brown black colonies

Answer 12

TRUE

Question 13

• causes respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients, esp. AIDS
• specimen: bronchoalveolar lavage

Answer 13

Pneumocystis jiroveci