Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 34: Epidermophyton Floccosum, Mucorales, Biosafety

• School: Western University
• Department: Microbiology and Immunology
• Course: Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B
• Professor: John Mc Cormick

Document Summary

Causes diffuse pulmonary infection, which is usually asymptomatic. Progressive pulmonary disease with lung abscesses can occur. Risk factors for disseminated disease: hiv, malignancy, corticosteroids. Mainly associated with chronic meningitis in aids patients. Emerging problem in pacific nw with 20% mortality, most commonly pneumonia. Laboratories without biological safety cabinets must not work on any mold, except those believed to be dermatophytes. Presence of a yeast phase (is it dimorphic?) Examination of the hyphae enables classification into 3 groups: Aseptate wide hyphae, characteristic of the lower fungi mucorales. Invasive infections in severely immunocompromised patients, especially with prolonged neutropenia. Cause chronic sinusitis and aspergilloma (fungus ball in preexisting pulmonary cavity) in immunocompetent patients. Aspergillus fumigatus also causes allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in asthmatics and cf patients. Aspergillus flavus may infect immunocompromised patients and also infects peanuts, producing aflatoxin which is associated with liver carcinoma. Rapidly growing greenish colony which you often see on moldy bread. Phialophora verrucosa, fonsecaea compacta, cladosporium carrionii, rhinocladiella aquaspersa.