Deck 22: The Fungi of Medical Importance

Question 1

The terms used for the four levels of fungal infection include the following, except

A)cutaneous.
B)bloodborne.
C)systemic.
D)subcutaneous.
E)superficial.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

All of the following are dimorphic, true fungal pathogens except

A)Candida.
B)Histoplasma.
C)Blastomyces.
D)Coccidioides.
E)Paracoccidioides.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Mycetoma is

A)a subcutaneous infection that looks like a tumor.
B)also called athlete's foot.
C)caused by dermatophytes.
D)only seen in the Midwest.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which is incorrect about histoplasmosis?

A)pathogen grows inside macrophages
B)transmitted by inhalation of spores
C)respiratory infections range from mild to severe
D)chronic cases have symptoms similar to tuberculosis
E)never spreads to sites outside the respiratory tract

Question 5

The highest incidence of histoplasmosis in the United States occurs in the

A)Southeast.
B)Southwest.
C)East and Midwest.
D)Northeast.
E)Rocky Mountains.

Question 6

All of the following pertain to Candida albicans, except

A)opportunistic yeast.
B)low numbers found in the mouth, intestines, genitalia, and skin.
C)has a large capsule.
D)infections often arise from an endogenous source.
E)persistent moist skin influences infection.

Question 7

Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton

A)produce tissue-damaging mycotoxins.
B)all cause athlete's foot.
C)reservoirs are humans, animals, and soils.
D)frequently cause septicemia.
E)are dimorphic fungi.

Question 8

The routes of entry for most fungi into the body are

A)urinary and reproductive.
B)digestive and respiratory.
C)blood and wounds.
D)respiratory and cutaneous.
E)None of the choices are correct.

Question 9

Which is incorrect about Sporothrix schenckii?

A)is dimorphic
B)lives in the soil
C)often transmitted by soil-contaminated thorns
D)causes superficial cutaneous infection
E)causes nodules along regional lymphatic channels

Question 10

Blastomyces dermatitidis

A)causes Gilchrist disease and Chicago disease.
B)is transmitted by skin contact with fomites.
C)is a dermatophyte.
D)usually enters through the gastrointestinal tract
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 11

Which is incorrect about tinea versicolor?

A)It is a superficial mycosis.
B)It is often transmitted by fomites.
C)It is caused by the yeast Malassezia furfur.
D)It causes disruption of skin pigmentation resulting in a mottled appearance.
E)It occasionally causes systemic infections in compromised patients.

Question 12

Dermatophytoses are

A)fungal infections of the skin, hair, and nails.
B)also called ringworm.
C)also called tineas.
D)often time-consuming to eradicate completely.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 13

Chromoblastomycosis

A)is caused by saprobes with dark-pigmented mycelia and spores.
B)is caused by dimorphic fungi.
C)is a systemic infection.
D)is a serious respiratory tract infection.
E)has a peak incidence in Alaska.

Question 14

All of the following pertain to coccidioidomycosis, except

A)the pathogen grows best in soil with bird and bat guano.
B)fungomas occur in the lungs of those infected
C)it is transmitted by inhalation of arthrospores.
D)it often has symptoms of fever, chest pain, cough, headache, malaise.
E)it is also called Valley Fever.

Question 15

The ability of a fungus to grow as a yeast or a mold depending on its environmental temperature is called

A)fungal virulence.
B)parasitism.
C)dimorphism.
D)dermatophytes.
E)opportunistic fungi.

Question 16

Amphotericin B, nystatin, and the imidazoles are all

A)mycotoxins.
B)fungal enzymes.
C)antifungal drugs.
D)culture media supplements for fungi.
E)None of the choices are correct.

Question 17

Transmission of tineas include

A)human to human
B)animal to human
C)soil to human
D)fomites to human
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 18

Paracoccidioides is

A)a superficial mycosis.
B)endemic to regions of Central and South America.
C)only seen in immunocompromised patients.
D)also known as Valley Fever.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 19

Characteristics of Histoplasma capsulatum include

A)it grows in moist soil, rich in nitrogen from bird and bat guano.
B)it is a yeast with a capsule.
C)it is a dermatophyte.
D)it grows in dry, arid soil.
E)None of the choices are correct.

Question 20

Which is mismatched?

A)Tinea capitis - ringworm of the beard
B)Tinea pedis - ringworm of the foot
C)Tinea cruis - ringworm of the groin
D)Tinea corporis - ringworm of the body
E)Tinea unguium - ringworm of the nails

Question 21

Which antifungal drug inhibits cell division of the fungus?

A)ketoconazole (Nizoral)
B)fluconazole
C)terbinafine (Lamisil)
D)amphotericin B
E)griseofulvin

Question 22

All of the following areas are subject to intertriginous infections, except

A)between folds of the groin.
B)under breasts.
C)in the armpit.
D)behind the knees.
E)chest.

Question 23

Ergotism is caused by

A)ingesting Amanita phalloides, the death-angel mushroom.
B)ingesting aflatoxin.
C)inhaling Stachybotrys spores and toxins.
D)ingesting alkaloids from Claviceps purpurea on rye plants.
E)inhaling Rhizopus spores.

Question 24

Serious mycoses treated with amphotericin B include all the following, except

A)zygomycosis.
B)invasive aspergillosis.
C)Pneumocystis pneumonia.
D)coccidioidomycosis.
E)histoplasmosis.

Question 25

Which of the following is incorrect about Sporotrichosis?

A)It is also known as Valley fever.
B)Humans and other mammals are susceptible.
C)Heat packs applied to skin lesions can resolve some infections.
D)A prick of a thorn is the classic mode of infection.
E)The sporotrichin skin test can be used to determine prior infection.

Question 26

Which of the following are likely to predispose patients to fungal infections?

A)cancer
B)AIDS
C)tuberculosis
D)malnutrition
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 27

Which of the following is a rare mycosis caused by a mold commonly found in soil, in dairy products and on the human body?

A)bark stripper's disease
B)Valley fever
C)sporotrichosis
D)geotrichosis
E)Pneumocystis pneumonia

Question 28

Aspergillosis includes all the following, except

A)there are no effective drugs to treat the infection.
B)noninvasive infections of the eyelids, sinuses, conjunctiva, and ear canals.
C)a pneumonia that disseminates to the brain.
D)most cases are due to A. fumigatus.
E)life-threatening infections in AIDS, leukemia, and transplant patients.

Question 29

Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci

A)has protozoan and fungal characteristics.
B)lacks ergosterol in its plasma membrane.
C)is an obligate parasite.
D)causes serious infection in elderly, premature infants, and AIDS patients.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 30

Cryptococcosis can include

A)pulmonary infection.
B)septicemia.
C)meningitis.
D)bone infection.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 31

Menthol and camphor (Vicks^TM) are effective treatments against

A)chromoblastomycosis.
B)ringworm.
C)histoplasmosis.
D)tinea versicolor.
E)blastomycosis.

Question 32

Decaying vegetation, such as piles of leaves and compost matter, allows growth and transmission of

A)Cryptococcus.
B)Aspergillus.
C)Candida.
D)Dermatophytes.
E)Pneumocytis.

Question 33

The primary portal of entry for fungal infections is

A)the urinary tract.
B)through skin.
C)the respiratory tract.
D)the nervous system.
E)the digestive system.

Question 34

Alternative names for Blastomyces dermatitidis include

A)Gilchrist's disease.
B)Valley fever.
C)Rose Gardener's disease.
D)Teapicker's lung.
E)Farmer's lung.

Question 35

Cryptococcus neoformans has the following characteristics, except

A)commonly found in the human mouth, intestines, and genitalia
B)a capsulated yeast
C)in high numbers in soil containing pigeon droppings
D)usually enters body by inhalation
E)primarily infects patients with AIDS, cancer, and diabetes

Question 36

Candidiasis includes

A)intertriginous infection of skin sites.
B)vulvovaginal infection.
C)oral cavity and esophageal infections.
D)skin and nail infections.
E)All of the choices are correct.

Question 37

Oral thrush is caused by

A)Cryptococcus neoformans.
B)Candida albicans.
C)Malassezia furfur.
D)Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci.
E)None of the choices are correct.

Question 38

This organism commonly contaminates grains, corn, and peanuts and produces a potent mycotoxin called aflatoxin:

A)Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci
B)Fusarium species
C)Rhizopus species
D)Geotrichum candidum
E)Aspergillus flavis

Question 39

This opportunist is the most frequent cause of life-threatening pneumonia in AIDS patients:

A)Cryptococcus neoformans
B)Candida albicans
C)Malassezia furfur
D)Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci
E)None of the choices are correct.

Question 40

All of the following are fungal allergies, except

A)bark stripper's disease.
B)farmer's lung.
C)teapicker's lung.
D)thrush.
E)All of the above.

Question 41

Which is incorrect about chromoblastomycosis?

A)it is characterized by highly visible verrucous lesions
B)treatment is with pentamidine
C)its etiological agent are soil saprobes with dark-pigmented mycelia and spores.
D)sclerotic cells are produced
E)it is frequently confused with yaws, cancer, and syphilis.

Question 42

Fungi cannot be found growing in nutritionally poor and adverse conditions.

Question 43

Adding salt and sugar can control the growth of certain bacteria but not fungi.

Question 44

Blastomycosis begins as a respiratory infection that can spread to the skin.

Question 45

Sporotrichosis is associated with soil high in pigeon droppings that is introduced into subcutaneous tissue.

Question 46

Thermal dimorphism is associated with opportunistic fungi and never seen in true fungal pathogens.

Question 47

Most mycoses are not communicable.

Question 48

The most common route of transmission for true pathogenic fungi is ingestion of spores.

Question 49

Fungal spores are common allergens that cause hypersensitivities.

Question 50

Sabouraud's dextrose agar is a lab medium for supporting growth of fungi.

Question 51

Trichophyton species infect hair, skin, and nails, whereas Microsporum species infect hair and skin but not nails.

Question 52

Fungi that exhibit thermal dimorphism grow as _____ at 30 ^$\circ$ C and as _____ at 37 ^$\circ$ C.

Question 53

Diseases caused by fungi are termed _____.

Question 54

Tough, warty verrucous lesions are seen in patients with tinea versicolor.

Question 55

Amphotericin B is an over-the-counter drug to treat athlete's foot.

Question 56

Patient's with madura foot develop swollen, ulcerative, tumor-like skin lesions called mycetomas.

Question 57

Dermatophyte spores can survive for years on fomites.

Question 58

All fungi are heterotrophic and can break their substrates down by secreting enzymes.

Question 59

_____ are superficial mycoses that cause white masses or dark masses to develop on the hair shaft.

Question 60

Skin testing with antigen is used to diagnose ringworm.

Question 61

Dermatophytes digest the protein _____, found in the skin, hair, and nails.

Question 62

The typical transmission of dimorphic fungi is inhalation of _____.

Question 63

Explain why Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci has been difficult to classify, and why traditional antifungal drugs are not effective against this microbe.

Question 64

Discuss at least 5 factors that predispose certain individuals to opportunistic fungal infections.

Question 65

Compare and contrast Histoplasmosis, Coccidioidomycosis, and Blastomycosis with regard to: a) causative agent, b) reservoir, c) transmission, and d) disease, including complications.

Question 66

The nodular, tumor-like fungal growths seen in certain chronic lung infections are called _____.

Question 67

Rhizopus, Absidia, and Mucor are mold genera that cause the disease called _____.

Question 68

Discuss why the use of broad-spectrum oral antimicrobics often lead to oral thrush and vulvovaginal candidiasis superinfections.