Fungal infections

The fungi form a large, diverse group of organism, most of which are found as saprophytes in the soil and on decomposing organic matter. They are eukaryotic, but differ from other groups, such as plants and animal.

Disease caused by fungal infection depends on many factors, primarily host susceptibility, pathogenicity of the fungal species and dose of fungal organisms.

The risk of fungal infections is tied to both reprography and immune status. Immuno-compromised individuals are exponentially more likely to suffer from fungal infection.

Immuno-competent patients do acquire significant, often invasive fungal disease, especially in endemic areas.

Fungal infections can produce hematological alterations. The hematological changes include white blood cell, red blood cell and platelet abnormality. Fungal infections may increase or decrease numbers of circulating erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets or may induce qualitative changes in these elements, some of which affect their function.
Fungal infections

Actinomycosis infection

Credit has to be given to von Langenbeck who has the first to observe, in 1845, the occurrence of the fungus infection on a patient, but it was James Israel (1878) who published the observations of von Langenbeck (1845), and who recognized an described an actinomycete as a causative agent of human disease.

Actinomycosis is a subacute-chronic infection characterized by abscess formation, draining sinus tracts, and tissue fibrosis.

Because of their chronic nature, actinomycosis infections frequently mimic carcinomas. The infection primarily caused by bacillus Actinomycosis israelii, which produces granulomatous and suppurative lesions with multiple abscesses.

Abdominal actinomycosis accounts for 20% of actinomycosis and represents ingestion of bacteria, hematogenous infection or extension from the female pelvis. Pelvic actinomycosis may represent spread form intra-abdominal infection; but is most often a complication of intra-uterine devices placement.

Other forms of actinomycosis include:
*brain abscess
*chronic meningitis
*uro-genital infection
*musculoskeletal infection
*isolated skin
*esophagitis
*thyroiditis
*disseminated hematogenous infection

The complications of actinomycosis vary, depending on the site of infection. Cervicofacial actinomycosis mat progress to involve sinus and maxillofacial subcutaneous tissue.

Abscesses and fistulas of the brain may also result. When the respiratory system is affected, the patient may develop pneumonia and emphysema.
Actinomycosis infection

What is histoplasmosis?

Histoplasmosis is a generalized mycosis of variable severity caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a diphasic fungus, and which primarily affects the lungs but from which hematogenous dissemination may occur.

Histoplasma capsulatum is a diphasic, soil-borne fungus. Humans and other mammals inhale wind-blown soils and aerosolized bird droppings that contain these organism so become infected. The disease is acquired by inhaling the microconidia or small spores.

Histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma capsulatum is widespread in its geographical distribution (North, Central and South America; Africa and Southeast Asia) and endemic in the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys and northeastern USA in soil of damp, fertile areas, polluted by birds, dogs, bats and skunks.

Histoplasmosis has a broad spectrum of clinical presentations, including symptomatic infection, acute or chronic pulmonary infection, mediastinal fibrosis, granulomas and disseminated histoplasmosis.
What is histoplasmosis?