MIDTERM LEC 2: PNEUMOCYSTIS SPP. Flashcards
(50 cards)
New/current name of Pneumocystis carnii
Pneumocystis jirovecii
Primary host of P. wakefieldiae/P. carinii
rats (rodents)
Primary host of P. jirovecii
humans
P. carinii was originally classified with what protozoa?
trypanosome
How was P. carinii reclassified from protozoa to fungi?
Through nucleic acid
sequencing (showed it is a fungus)
Pneumocystis spp. most often recovered from humans
P. jirovecii
T/F: P. jirovecii is an opportunistic, atypical fungus that
infects immunocompromised hosts
true
P. jirovecii mostly manifests as what disease?
Pneumocystic Pneumonia (PCP) / Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP)
At what age do most children gain antibodies against pneumocystic pneumonia?
2-4 years old
Pneumocystis infection is (asymptomatic/symptomatic?) in immunocompetent patients
asymptomatic
Hallmark of PJP/PCP
interstitial pneumonitis
The hallmark of PJP, interstitial pneumonitis, is accompanied with
a mononuclear infiltrate composed predominantly of plasma cells
Pneumocystis spp. is initially identified as the
causative agent of?
interstitial plasma cell pneumonia
In which patients is interstitial plasma cell pneumonia commonly seen?
malnourished or premature infants
Which specialized cells does interstitial plasma cell pneumonia target?
type I pneumocytes (for gas exchange)
Pneumocystis remained one of the
primary opportunistic infections found in
patients with what type of disease?
AIDS
Since what year has Pneumocystis been the primary opportunistic infection of patients with AIDS?
since the early 1980s
What are the symptoms of PJP/PCP?
- nonproductive cough (cough with no mucus)
- difficulty breathing
- low-grade fever
Range of temperature of low-grade fever
37.5°C - 38.3°C
What findings might a chest radiograph of a patient with PJP show?
normal or a diffuse interstitial infiltrate
What causes normal or diffuse interstitial infiltrate findings on a chest radiograph?
Due to the organism’s immunological response after
it binds to and destroys alveolar cells.
Environmental sources or reservoirs of Pneumocystis jirovecii
- soil
- water
- airborne particles
- animal reserviors
Mode of transmission of P. jirovecii
Inhalation of airborne particles
Invasive stage of P. jirovecii
trophic form