Sketchy Micro: Histoplasmosis Flashcards

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1
Q

Histoplasma is almost always associated with ______________.

A

bird or bat droppings –such as a patient who spelunks

Think of the bats in the HISTOrian’s cave.

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2
Q

Where (in the U.S.) is Histoplasma commonly found?

A

In the Mississippi Valley (like the map with the Mississippi highlighted and the fact that this is INDIANA Jones’ dorky brother)

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3
Q

How do Histoplasma infect people?

A

People inhale spores and the fungi then infect macrophages (like the bird in the macrophage cage symbol next to the guy coughing).

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4
Q

How can Histoplasma be diagnosed?

A

With urine or serum antigen tests (like the red and yellow dripping stalagtites)

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5
Q

On KOH staining, Histoplasma appear as ______________.

A

small ovoid bodies inside macrophages (like the smaller puddles inside the larger puddles on the cave floor)

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6
Q

Histoplasma is dimorphic, meaning _______________.

A

it is a “mold in the cold and a yeast in the heat”

Think of the dimorphic butterfly.

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7
Q

What systemic signs does Histoplasma cause?

A
  • Lung calcifications (like the white stalactites on the wall that looks like lungs)
  • Erythema nodosum (like the red spots on the pillars that resemble legs)
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8
Q

What does Histoplasma do in immunocompromised people?

A

It spreads to the liver and spleen and causes calcifications (like the cave painting of the bull with the liver and spleen spots above the historian’s cane).

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9
Q

What two drugs treat Histoplasmosis?

A
  • Ketoconazole or fluconazole for local infections (like the pine cones)
  • Amphotericin for systemic infections (like the frog painting beneath the bull painting)
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