Medically Significant Bacteria

Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University
BIO1227: MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF NURSING AND IAS, BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
WEEK 2: MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT FUNGI
ITEM MSM PROFILE

MICROBIAL PROFILE
I MICROORGANISM/CAUSATIVE Aspergillosis
AGENT
A GRAM REACTION (+)
B OXYGEN REQUIREMENT Facultative anaerobe
C SIZE 3.5 µm
D SHAPE Aspergillus gets its name from its shape. This
resembles the shape of an aspergillum, a device used
for sprinkling holy water.
E HABITAT Plants/decaying matter
F DISCOVERY 1842. The earliest description of
pulmonary aspergillosis was published in 1842 by
physician, John H. Bennett. Bennett noted the
presence of a fungus in the lungs of a post mortem
patient with pneumothorax.
G MICROSCOPIC IMAGE
II DISEASE PROFILE Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic fungus that

continuously disseminates spores (conidia) into the
environment. It is also the most common and
opportunistic aerial fungal pathogen, causing allergic
and chronic lung pathologies including the fatal
invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised
patients.
A DISEASE/S Pneumothorax
1
©Biofacultymember2021
B SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE • Wheezing

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Fever (in rare cases)
• Weight loss
• Cough
• Coughing up blood
• Fatigue
C INCUBATION PERIOD 14.6 days (95% CI; 12.8–16.5 days)

D MODE OF TRANSMISSION Transmission occurs through inhalation of airborne
conidia. Hospital-acquired infections may be sporadic
or may be associated with dust exposure during
building renovation or construction. Occasional
outbreaks of cutaneous infection have been traced to
contaminated biomedical devices.
E DIAGNOSIS Healthcare providers consider medical history, risk
factors, symptoms, physical examinations, and lab
tests when diagnosing aspergillosis. This may need
imaging tests such as a chest x-ray or a CT scan of
lungs or other parts of the body depending on the
location of the suspected infection. If the healthcare
provider suspects that patient have
an Aspergillus infection in the lungs, he or she might
collect a sample of fluid from the respiratory tract to
send to a laboratory. Healthcare providers may also
perform a tissue biopsy, in which a small sample of
affected tissue is analyzed in a laboratory for evidence
of Aspergillus under a microscope or in a fungal
culture. A blood test can help diagnose invasive
aspergillosis early in people who have severely
weakened immune systems.
F TREATMENT • Itraconazole
• May consider corticosteroids
• Voriconazole
• Other options: lipid amphotericin
formulations, posaconazole, isavuconazole,
itraconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin
2
• May include surgery and/or antifungal

medications
G PREVENTION Try to avoid areas with a lot of dust like construction

or excavation sites. If you can’t avoid these areas,
wear an N95 respirator (a type of face mask) while
you’re there.
• Avoid activities that involve close contact to

soil or dust, such as yard work or gardening. If
this isn’t possible,
o Wear shoes, long pants, and a long-
sleeved shirt when doing outdoor
activities such as gardening, yard work,
or visiting wooded areas.
o Wear gloves when handling materials
such as soil, moss, or manure.
• To reduce the chances of developing a skin
infection, clean skin injuries well with soap
and water, especially if they have been
exposed to soil or dust.
• Antifungal medication. If you are at high risk
for developing invasive aspergillosis (for
example, if you’ve had an organ transplant or
a stem cell transplant), your healthcare
provider may prescribe medication to prevent
aspergillosis.
• Testing for early infection. Some high-risk
patients may benefit from blood tests to
detect invasive aspergillosis.
H NO OF DAYS BEING 4-10 days

SYMPTOMATIC
3
I IMAGE OF INFECTED PATIENT
References:
Fang, W., & Latgé, J. P. (2018). Microbe Profile: Aspergillus fumigatus: a saprotrophic and opportunistic
fungal pathogen. Microbiology (Reading, England), 164(8), 1009–1011.
https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.000651
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious
Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED)
4

Medically Significant Bacteria

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Medically Significant Bacteria

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Medically Significant Bacteria

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology

BIO1227: MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

WEEK 2: MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT FUNGI

ITEM MSM PROFILE

II DISEASE PROFILE Aspergillus fumigatus is a saprotrophic fungus that

B SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE • Wheezing

C INCUBATION PERIOD 14.6 days (95% CI; 12.8–16.5 days)

• May include surgery and/or antifungal

G PREVENTION Try to avoid areas with a lot of dust like construction

• Avoid activities that involve close contact to

H NO OF DAYS BEING 4-10 days

I IMAGE OF INFECTED PATIENT

You might also like