Fungi
Fungi are larger than bacteria
Have nuclei with multiple chromosomes and cytoplasm containing mitochondria and ribosomes
Can reproduce sexually by meiosis
Pathological by (1) infection - superficial, subcutaneous, systemic (2) toxin production (3) hypersensitivity reactions
Predisposition - Immunocompromise; premature, AIDS, indwelling lines
Classification
- Yeasts
- Filamentous fungi
- Dimorphic fungi
Candida
- Commonest human pathogen is candida albicans sp
- Affects mucous membranes (vagina, cervix, oropharynx), skin, respiratory tract, urinary tract
- Risk:
- Diabetes
- Immunocompromised
- Acquired: drugs (steroids, cytotoxics), AIDS, leukaemia
- Congenital
- Diagnosis: (1) Microscopy (2) Culture (3) Antigen detection in urine, blood (4) Antibody detection (5) Increased arabinitol - a metabolite of candida in serum
Pathogenic fungi
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Malassezia furfur
- Dematophytes
- Toulosis glabrata
- Aspergillus fumigatus
- Microsporum audouinii
- Pneumocystis carinii
