Comprehensive Fungi, Protozoa, and
Helminthes: Pathogens, Diagnosis,
and Treatments
Malassezia furfur - Correct answerLipophilic yeast, tropical fungi; dimorphic;
present in increased temperature and humidity; greasy, sweaty skin.
Differentiation in skin pigmentation - Correct answerWithout itch or burn.
Dermatophytes - Correct answerInfection of keratinized layer of skin, nail, and
hair; tinea infections (several places on body).
Candida albicans - Correct answerOvergrowth of normal flora of the mouth,
vaginal tract, gut, skin, mucous membrane, systemic; infects immunocompromised
patients.
Oral Thrush - Correct answerA condition caused by Candida albicans.
Vulvovaginitis - Correct answerA condition caused by Candida albicans.
Intertriginous areas - Correct answerUnderboob rash caused by Candida
albicans.
Diaper rash - Correct answerA condition caused by Candida albicans.
Sporothrix schenckii - Correct answerRose gardener disease; inoculated by
thorns on rose from soil, sphagnum moss.
Initial lesion of Sporothrix schenckii - Correct answerPapule, may ulcerate.
Secondary lesion of Sporothrix schenckii - Correct answerChain of nodules
following lymphatics (~2wks later).
Coccidiodes immitis - Correct answerInhaled; southwest US (arid weather);
causes pneumonia, 'valley fever'.
, Blastomyces dermatitidis - Correct answerInhaled; found in OH and MS river
basins; associated with decaying matter (eg. soil and leaf litter); causes pneumonia.
Histoplasma capsulatum - Correct answerInhaled; found in OH and MS river
basins, great lakes; found in bird and bat droppings, inhaled during spelunking; causes
pneumonia.
Aspergillus - Correct answerUbiquitous; air, soil, decaying matter; Nosocomial;
always a mold; causes pulmonary disease.
Mucor - Correct answerRhibocerebral zygomycosis; invasive infection of nasal
cavity, paranasal sinuses, orbit.
Pneumocystis jiroveci - Correct answerRespiratory portal of entry; cyst form for
infection; most common infection in AIDS pts; causes pneumonia.
Cryptococcus neoformans - Correct answerEncapsulated yeast, not dimorphic;
only yeast that contains a capsule; found in bird feces and soil (pigeons); causes
meningitis in AIDS patients.
Amphotericin B - Correct answerPolyene; primary mechanism: Binds to
ergosterol, makes ion pores, causes osmotic imbalance which leads to leakage and
death.
Nystatin - Correct answerPolyene; primary mechanism: Binds to ergosterol,
makes ion pores, causes osmotic imbalance which leads to leakage and death.
Fluconazole - Correct answerInhibits lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase
cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme.
Itraconazole - Correct answerInhibits lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase
cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme.
Caspofungin - Correct answerNew, highly selective semisynthetic lipopeptides
that inhibit Beta-D-glucan synthase in the cell membrane (only fungal).
Micafungin - Correct answerNew, highly selective semisynthetic lipopeptides that
inhibit Beta-D-glucan synthase in the cell membrane (only fungal).
Mycotoxins - Correct answerToxins associated with fungi that can have various
effects on the body.
Helminthes: Pathogens, Diagnosis,
and Treatments
Malassezia furfur - Correct answerLipophilic yeast, tropical fungi; dimorphic;
present in increased temperature and humidity; greasy, sweaty skin.
Differentiation in skin pigmentation - Correct answerWithout itch or burn.
Dermatophytes - Correct answerInfection of keratinized layer of skin, nail, and
hair; tinea infections (several places on body).
Candida albicans - Correct answerOvergrowth of normal flora of the mouth,
vaginal tract, gut, skin, mucous membrane, systemic; infects immunocompromised
patients.
Oral Thrush - Correct answerA condition caused by Candida albicans.
Vulvovaginitis - Correct answerA condition caused by Candida albicans.
Intertriginous areas - Correct answerUnderboob rash caused by Candida
albicans.
Diaper rash - Correct answerA condition caused by Candida albicans.
Sporothrix schenckii - Correct answerRose gardener disease; inoculated by
thorns on rose from soil, sphagnum moss.
Initial lesion of Sporothrix schenckii - Correct answerPapule, may ulcerate.
Secondary lesion of Sporothrix schenckii - Correct answerChain of nodules
following lymphatics (~2wks later).
Coccidiodes immitis - Correct answerInhaled; southwest US (arid weather);
causes pneumonia, 'valley fever'.
, Blastomyces dermatitidis - Correct answerInhaled; found in OH and MS river
basins; associated with decaying matter (eg. soil and leaf litter); causes pneumonia.
Histoplasma capsulatum - Correct answerInhaled; found in OH and MS river
basins, great lakes; found in bird and bat droppings, inhaled during spelunking; causes
pneumonia.
Aspergillus - Correct answerUbiquitous; air, soil, decaying matter; Nosocomial;
always a mold; causes pulmonary disease.
Mucor - Correct answerRhibocerebral zygomycosis; invasive infection of nasal
cavity, paranasal sinuses, orbit.
Pneumocystis jiroveci - Correct answerRespiratory portal of entry; cyst form for
infection; most common infection in AIDS pts; causes pneumonia.
Cryptococcus neoformans - Correct answerEncapsulated yeast, not dimorphic;
only yeast that contains a capsule; found in bird feces and soil (pigeons); causes
meningitis in AIDS patients.
Amphotericin B - Correct answerPolyene; primary mechanism: Binds to
ergosterol, makes ion pores, causes osmotic imbalance which leads to leakage and
death.
Nystatin - Correct answerPolyene; primary mechanism: Binds to ergosterol,
makes ion pores, causes osmotic imbalance which leads to leakage and death.
Fluconazole - Correct answerInhibits lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase
cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme.
Itraconazole - Correct answerInhibits lanosterol 14-alpha-demethylase
cytochrome P-450-dependent enzyme.
Caspofungin - Correct answerNew, highly selective semisynthetic lipopeptides
that inhibit Beta-D-glucan synthase in the cell membrane (only fungal).
Micafungin - Correct answerNew, highly selective semisynthetic lipopeptides that
inhibit Beta-D-glucan synthase in the cell membrane (only fungal).
Mycotoxins - Correct answerToxins associated with fungi that can have various
effects on the body.
