dimorphs (1) Flashcards
coccidiodes is thermally dimorphic, what are its two forms?
mold and spherule (all the others are mold and yeast)
where is coccidioides endemic? what type of weather does mold form grow in?
US southwest
wet weather
what form of coccidioides in infectious? what type of weather is this form released in?
infectious arthospores released in dry
60% of ppl have a “mild infection” with coccidiodes, describe the presentation
asymptomatic or flulike clearance by innate or containment by CMI
what organism causes valley fever/desert rheumatism?
coccidioides (moderate disease)
describe the severe form of an infection with coccidioides
major pneumonia or dissemination (either bare or in macrophages)
how do you treat someone with coccidioides infection that is predisposed to complications?
oral azoles
how do you treat coccidiodes meningitis
fluconazole
how do you treat someone who is prego or with a disseminated coccidiodes infection
amphotericin B
where is histoplasma endemic?
ohio, missouri and mississippi river valleys
what gets “kicked up by construction projects” that causes histoplasma infection
infectious microconidia
how does an immunocomptant person respond to histoplasma infection
usually clear or contain in granulomas, higher-dose infection produces TB like illness
how does a CMI deficient host respond to an histoplasma infection
dissemination in macrophages, look for pancytopenia and ulcerations on tongue
what is special about the histoplasma yeast?
they can survive in lysosomal fusion! (they can survive the acidic environment and not get killed in lysosomes)
how do you treat a serious lung infection with histoplasma?
itraconazole
