U6 LEC: OPPORTUNISTIC MYCOSES Flashcards
Infections in patients with immune deficiencies who would otherwise not be infected.
Opportunistic Mycoses
Opportunistic mycoses are seen in those people with impaired host defenses such as?
- AIDS
- Alteration of Normal Flora
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Immunosuppressive therapy
- Malignancy
Part of a normal human flora
Endogenous
Examples of Endogenous Mycoses
- Candida spp.
- Pneumocystis jirovecii
Most common endogenous mycoses, indicator of weak immune system
thrush (Candida spp.)
Fungus does not normally live in/on human body
Exogenous
Examples of Exogenous Mycoses
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Aspergillus (different species)
- Zygomycetes
- Many Other Fungi
Causative agent of Candidiasis or Moniliasis
Candida albicans and other Candida spp.
Candida albicans causes?
Candidiasis or Moniliasis
Candidiasis
oval, buddying yeast that produces?
pseudohyphae
T/F: Candida albicans causes the most frequent opportunistic fungal infections.
True
Candidiasis
harmless inhabitants of the?
skin and mucous membranes (RT, GIT, Female Genital Tract)
T/F: Normal immune system keeps Candida on body surfaces.
True
Other Candida species
- C. tropicalis
- C. krusei
- C. parapsilosis
- C. glabrata
- C. gullermondii
- C. lusitaniae
- C. kefyr
Candidiasis
Main Defense Mechanisms
- skin and mucous membranes integrity
- presence of normal bacterial flora
- phagocytosis
- killing (most in PMNs, less in macrophages)
- T cells (CD4)
Candidiasis
Important Risk Factors
- Neutropenia
- Diabetes mellitus
- AIDS
- SCID
- Myeloperoxidase defects
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics
- Indwelling catheters
- Major surgery
- Organ transplantation
- Neonates
- Severity of an illness
- Intravenous drug addicts
Candidiasis
Clinical Forms
- Cutaneous and Mucosal
- Invasive
Candidiasis
Manifestations under Cutaneous and Mucosal Candidiasis
- Oral thrush
- Oezophagitis
- Vulvovaginal infection
- Cutaneous candidiasis (skin trauma, burn patients)
- Onchomycosis
- Mucocutaneous candidiasis (SCID patients)
Invasive Candidiasis also refers to?
Systemic, Disseminated, Hematogenous Candidiasis
Invasive Candidiasis
begins with?
candidemia (only 50% can be proven)
Invasive Candidiasis
If phagocytic system is normal?
invasive infection stops here (destroyed by phagocytes)
Invasive Candidiasis
If phagocytic system is compromised?
infection spreads to many organs (causes focal infection)
Invasive Candidiasis
Mortality of candidemia
30-40%
Candidiasis
Specimen
- Swabs or scrappings from lesions
- Sputum
- CSF
- Exudates
Candidiasis
Microscopic
Gram (+) oval, budding yeast/elongated budding cells in chain (pseudohyphae)
Candidiasis
SDA
soft, cream-colored colonies with yeasty odor, surface growth consists of oval budding cells
Candidiasis
Ferments?
glucose and maltose producing acid and gas
Candidiasis
Serological test
Precipitation tests
This agar is used to differentiate Candida based on?
color
CHROM agar
Green
C. albicans
CHROM agar
Pink
C. krusei
CHROM agar
Metallic blue
C. tropicalis
CHROM agar
White to mauve
Other species
This is done for Candida albicans in presence of high protein content.
Germ tube
Germ Tube
specimen
plasma or serum
Germ Tube
(+) result
presence of germ tube
Germ Tube
What Candida spp. is present if there is (+) result?
Candida dubliniensis
Chlamydoconidia is present in?
C. albicans and C. dubliniensis
Candidiasis
Epidemiology
- Endogenous
- Cross infections (ICU patients)
Candidiasis
Treatment
Neutropenic patients: Amphotericin B
Non neutropenic patients:
Nystatin, Caspofungin
Candidiasis
This treatment suppresses intestinal and vaginal candidiasis
Nystatin
Causative agent of Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Pneumocystis jirovecii causes?
Pneumocystis Pneumonia
Pneumocystis jirovecii is formerly called?
P. carinii
Pneumocystis
previously classified as?
protozoa
Pneumocystis
considered as fungus based on?
nucleic acid and biochemical analysis
Pneumocystis
Present in?
lung of many mammals
Pneumocystis
Infection in humans
persistent but harmless
Pneumocystis
Main Risk Factors
- AIDS
- Transplantation
- Corticosteroid
- Antineoplastic therapy
Pneumocystis
Main defense mechanism
T-cell mediated
Pneumocystis
Causes what in immunocompromised patients?
Interstitial pneumonitis
Pneumocystis
Specimens can be?
sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage
Pneumocystis
Treatment and Prevention
Co-trimoxazole or Pentamidine
Causative agent of Cryptococcosis or Torulosis
Cryptococcus neoformans