Sketchy: Cryptococcus Flashcards
1
Q
How is crypto transmitted?
A
inhalation
2
Q
Cue:
- 2 sarcophagi with repeating patterns of circles on them
A
- sarcophagi = heavily encapsulated
- repeating circles = Cryptococci capsule is made of repeating polysaccharide capsular antigens
3
Q
Cue:
- mummy holding a cane with bubbles on his chest and head
A
- cane = immunocompromised (HIV, malignancies, steroids)
- bubbles on chest = bronchopulmonary washings (for diagnosis)
- bubbles on head = “soap bubble” lesions in gray matter of the brain for cryptococcal meningitis
4
Q
Where is crypto normally found?
A
- in soil
- pigeon droppings
5
Q
What stains are used to diagnose Crypto?
A
- mucicarmine (red)
- methanamine silver
6
Q
The cryptococcus capsule is made of ______.
A
repeating polysaccharide capsular antigens
7
Q
Cue:
- red and silver striped sarcophagus
A
tissue samples can be stained with mucicarmine (red) or methanamine silver for diagnosis
8
Q
Cue:
- frogs, pinecones, and a flute
A
- tx for Cryptococcus =
- Amphotericin B (amphibian) +
- flucytosine (flute) +
- maintenance with Fluconazole (pinecone)
9
Q
What is the most common cause of fungal meningitis?
A
Crypto
10
Q
Fungi are cultured on what agar?
A
Sabouraud agar
11
Q
Cue:
- sweating, coughing archaeologist wearing a neck brace and latex gloves and holding a spray bottle labeled NH3
A
- cryptococcal PNA and meningitis:
- sweating = fever
- coughing = inhalation = transmission; infects the lungs
- neck brace = meningitis (nuchal rigidity)
- latex gloves = latex agglutination test
- NH3 spray bottle = urease positive
12
Q
The latex agglutination test detects the repeating polysaccharide capsular antigen of _____ .
A
crypto
13
Q
The ______ test detects the repeating polysaccharide capsular antigen of crypto.
A
latex agglutination
14
Q
Urease positive fungus = ?
A
Crypto
15
Q
The latex agglutination test detects the _____ of crypto.
A
repeating polysaccharide capsular antigen
