Skin Microflora - Fungi

Question 1

List some common skin commensals.

Answer 1

staphylococcus epidermidis, streptococci spp., pseudomonas aeruginosa, candida.

Question 2

List general characteristics of commensal microflora of the skin.

Answer 2

Grow in wide temperature range, high salt conditions, wide pH range.

Question 3

List some reasons as to why a commensal flora becomes pathogenic.

Answer 3

Disruption of normal skin barrier (surgical wounds, catheters, IVDU, trauma, ulcers); disruption to normal skin flora (antibiotics); obstruction of skin glands (often in hot weather, folliculitis, sebaceous cysts).

Question 4

Compare and contrast yeasts and moulds.

Answer 4

Both are eukaryotic organisms, capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction.
Yeasts are unicellular, with no hyphae or pseudohyphae, and replicate by nuclear fission.
Moulds are multicellular, differentiated, and have true hyphae.

Question 5

List some predisposing factors to candidiasis.

Answer 5

Diabetes, antibiotics, body habitus, immunodeficiency.

Question 6

How does malassezia furfur appear microscopically?

Answer 6

Classical spaghetti and meatballs.

Question 7

List some antifungals used in the treatment of candida.

Answer 7

topical azoles, fluconazole, terbinafine.

Question 8

List some antifungals used in the treatment of Cryptococcus.

Answer 8

fluconazole, amphotericin.

Question 9

List some antifungals used in the treatment of dermatophytes.

Answer 9

terbinafines, griseofulvin.

Question 10

List some antifungals used in the treatment of aspergillus.

Answer 10

vericonazole.