2.2.3 Intro to Opportunistic Infections Flashcards
(32 cards)
C. neoformans typically affects what type of patients?
Immunocompromised patients
According to Dr. Fischback, as a patients CD4 levels drop what happens to the type of diseases they get infected with?
They get weirder
How is pneumocystis jirovecii transmitted?
Aerosolized mouse or rat urine
C. neoformans usually leads to what?
Meningitis but can also cause primary lung disease
What is a dimorphic fungi?
They have both a yeast form and a mycelial form - only the yeast form occurs within the human body
This image is characteristic of what disease?
Coccidioides immitus
Where is Coccidioides immitus found?
Southwest and California
This image is characteristic of what disease and what are its hallmark characteristics?
Pneumocystis carinii - Note foamy eosinophilic material within alveolar space. The organisms are not visible, except with the GMS silver stain.
Does Coccidioides immitus affect normal hosts?
Yes but it will disseminate with immunocompromised patients
How is cryptococcus transferred?
Infection is acquired by inhaling aerosolized droplets containing yeast, not transferred person to person.
What is this an image of and what are its defining characteristics?
Soap bubble appearance in the Virchow-Robbin space of the brain, characteristic of C. neoforman. Capsular polysaccharide stains intense red with periodic acid
Where does histoplasma capsulatum prefer to live?
Bird DROPPINGS!!
What is this an image of?
histoplasma capsulatum granuloma
Where is histoplasma capsulatum usually found within the host?
Within macrophage
What is this an image of and what staining is this?
India Ink test – not very sensitive, or specific, so it is rarely (if ever) used the modern laboratory. Calcifluor white staining or C Neoformans antigen testing is preferred. Note the budding yeast body within the capsule
This map is characteristic of what disease?
Blastomyces dermatitidis
C. neoformans is resistant to what?
phagocytosis
What is this an image of and what is the stain used?
Coccidioides immitus using calcifluor white stain
How to test for C. neoformans?
Antigen testing in the CSF
This image is characteristic of what disease?
Pneumocystis jirovecii - silver stain. The encysted organisms have a cup or goblet shape.
What is this an image of?
Many yeast but not many macrophages characteristic of Disseminated histoplasmosis in a patient with a compromised immune system
The coin lesion found on this chest x-ray is characteristic of what disease?
histoplasma capsulatum
What is this an image of?
histoplasma capsulatum within a patient with a normal immune system. Contained within a macrophage
What is this an image of?
HIV patient with disseminated histoplasmosis
