Medical Mycology

Study of fungi is called Mycology

Hypha: An elongated Multi cellular structure of a
fungus ,which some times shows branching.
Mycelium: Group of hyphae.
Yeast: Oval or spherical Unicellular fungus.
Molds:Filamentous fungi.
Spore:Reproductive forms of a fungus.
Classification of Fungi

Unicellular forms: Eg -Yeast and yeast like fungi

Multicellular forms: Eg - Molds or filamentous type

Dimorphi fungi:-Which exist in both yeast phase and

mold phase
Fungal diseases are called Mycosis
Classification of Mycosis
1.Superficial Mycosis
These are fungal infection of the dead layers of the
skin,hair and nails
Fungi causing superficial Mycosis are saprophytes which
feed on keratin.
They do not invade into deeper layers.
Hence there is not tissue reactions of inflammation in
these diseases examples: Piedra,Tinea Vercisicolor etc
Piedra Tinea Versicolor
2. Cutaneous mycoses. These are fungal infections of
skin hair hand nail, but evoke a tissue response
characterised by inflammation and itching example:
Dermatophytosis,cutaneous candidiasis etc
3.Subcutaneous mycoses. The subcutaneous tissues are
affected sometimes spreading into deeper layers
example :Mycetoma, chromomycosis etc
4. Deep mycoses. These infections involve internal
organs like lungs, reticulo endothelial system, central
nervous system etc. Example: Cryptococcosis,
Histoplasmosis etc
.
5. Opertunistic mycoses. These infections are usually
seen in hosts who are immuno compromised due to
various reasons Eg: Aspergillosis, candidiasis etc.
Anti Fungal agents
Most of the anti fungal agents are available for topical
use as ointment or powders. Some of the important
antifungal agents are listed below:-
1. Amphotericin B: This can be used systemic in
systemic mycoses like cryptococcosis,
histpolasmosis etc. It is administered as injection.
2. Nystatin: This drug specifically acts against
candidiasis. It is administered topically as ointment
or suppository.
Anti Fungal agents
3. Fluconazole, Ketoconazole and miconazole: These
drugs act against candidiasis, dematophytosis and
systemic fungal infection. They are available as
tablets.
4. Griseofulvin: This drug is active against
dermatophytosis. It is available in form of tablets.
Application to nursing
The nurse should understand that most of the fungi
produce spores which get disseminated in the air we
breathe .
So the nurse should take care :
1. To wear a mask while dressing a wound which is
possibly contaminated with fungus.
2. While handling sputum samples from patients with
aspergillosis, the nurse should avoid aerosols and
should cover the sputum cup with a lid.
Application to nursing
3. The patients with fungal infection should not be kept
in the same ward along with cancer patients, patients
on steroid therapy, patients with diabetes mellitus or
patients with receiving anticancer therapy.
4. Most of the fungal infections show slow progression
and are not initially fatal unless the patient is immuno
compromised.
 Medical Parasitology
1. Parasitology is a science which deals with Protozoan’s
and helminthes.
2. Medical Parasitology is a study of Pathogenicity of
parasites and laboratory diagnosis of parasitic diseases.
3. Parasites are broadly divided two categories namely
protozoan parasites and helminthic parasites
4. Protozoan parasites are unicellular and helminthic
parasites are multicelluar
5. Helminthic parasites are again divided as nematode
parasites, cestode parasites, and trematode parasites
depending upon a few morphological differences
 Protozoan parasites
S.NO Name Disease System affected
1 Entamoeba Amoebiasis Large intestine, liver
histolytica
2 Giardia lamblia Giardiasis Small intestine
3 Trichomanas Vaginitis vagina
vaginalis
4 Trypanosoma brucei African Blood
trypanosomiasis
6 Plasmodium Species Malaria RBC of Blood
7 Toxoplasma gondil toxoplasmosis Lymph
Nodes,eye,brain
8 Pneumocystis pneumonia lung
jerovicii
9 Cryptosporidium Cryptosporidiosis Small intestine
Parvum
Protozoan disease Symptoms
 Nema tod e P ara sites

S.NO Name Disease System affected

1 Ascaris lumbricodes Ascaris Small intestine
2 Ancylostoma Ancylostomiasis Small intestine
duodenale
3 Enterobius Enterobiasis Large intestine
vermicularis
4 Trichuris trichiura Trichuriasis Large intestine
5 Strongylodes Strongylodes Small intestine
stercoralis
6 Wuchereria bancrofti Filariasis Lymphatics
7 Dracunculus Dra cunculiasis Subcutaneous
medinensis ullceration
 VECTORS

Mechanical vectors are those in whom the Parasite

does not undergo multiplication. The vector
mechanically transfers the parasite from one host
to another.eg: Housefly.
Cyclical vector: this is a Vector in which the
parasite undergoes a part of its lifecycle.
Eg: Anopheles mosquito, lice, ticks.
 VECTORS

Control of Vectors:
Control of arthropods is by the following methods.
 Physical method: Elimination of breeding places. This consists of
removing stagnant waters around the house, filling ditches and keeping
the environment neat. Sanitary disposal of sewage is compulsory.
 Biological control: Release of gambusia fish in to water, which feeds
on larvae of mosquitoes
 Chemical control Spraying larvicide oils on the surface of water kills
the larvae of mosquitoes.BHC sprays can be done inside house to kill
mosquitoes. Malathion sprays can be done outdoors.
 Personal protection: use of mosquito nets protects individuals against
mosquito bite.
 Virology

 Viruses are micro organisms smaller than Bacteria.

 The differences between bacteria and viruses

No Feature Bacteria Virus

1 Cellular organisation Present Absent

2 Nucleic acid Both DNA and RNA Either DNA or

are present RNA,Never both

3 Culture On Culture media Only in Living

media
4 Replication Binary fission Complex process
of Multiplication

5 Antibiotics Effectively destroy Cannot act on

Bacteria Virus
 Virology

Depending upon the nucleic acid present, virus can be

grouped as DNA virus and RNA virus.
Protein Coat-Capsid
Some of the virus consist of an envelop which is made
of lipoprotein.
Enveloped viruses and non enveloped viruses.
Enveloped viruses contain a spike like projection
called peplomers.
 Virology

Viral haemaglutination
Eg:Inflenza virus,Meseals virus,Mumps virus,Rubella virus

Viral Multiplication
Adsorption
Penetration
Uncoating
Biosynthesis
Maturation
Release (Budding)
 Virology

DNA Viruses
Example:Small pox viruses,Herpse simplex
viruses,Varicella Zoster Virus,Hepatitis B virus.

RNA Viruses
Example:Polio Myelitis Virus,influenza Virus,meseals
Virus,Mumps virus,HIV
 Virology

Examples of some Anti viral Agents

1.Acyclovir-In the treatment of Herpes Viral Infection
2.Zidovudine-HIV
3.Amantadine-Influenza
4.Oseltamivir-Swine Inflenza