Treatment of dimorphic fungal infections

Treatment of dimorphic fungal infections

Treatment of dimorphic fungal infections

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Treatment Principles - Fungal Drug Fight Club

  • Severity dictates the weapon: Treatment hinges on disease severity and host immune status.
  • Main Event:
    • Mild-to-Moderate Disease: Itraconazole (oral).
    • Severe/Disseminated Disease: Amphotericin B (IV), often lipid formulation to ↓ toxicity, followed by a step-down to oral itraconazole for >1 year.
  • Specialty Match:
    • Fluconazole is key for Coccidioidal meningitis due to excellent CNS penetration.

CNS Coccidioidomycosis requires lifelong suppressive therapy with fluconazole to prevent relapse.

Histoplasma & Blastomyces - Midwest Mycosis Mayhem

  • Treatment by Severity:

    • Mild-to-Moderate (Pulmonary): Itraconazole for 6-12 months. Many acute cases are self-limiting; treatment can shorten symptom duration.
    • Severe/Progressive Disseminated/CNS:
      • Induction: Liposomal Amphotericin B (IV) for 1-2 weeks.
      • Consolidation: Oral Itraconazole for ≥12 months.
  • Key Considerations:

    • Immunocompromised: Always treat, even if disease appears mild.
    • CNS Infection: Requires longer therapy duration and careful monitoring for relapse.
  • 📌 Mnemonic: Use Ampho-"terrible" for terrible, severe disease; then Itraconazole to ensure it's "gone-azole".

⭐ In severe disseminated histoplasmosis, initial therapy with Amphotericin B is critical to reduce fungal load before transitioning to long-term itraconazole for maintenance and prevention of relapse.

Coccidioides & Paracoccidioides - Desert & Jungle Jivers

Coccidioides spherule with endospores

  • Coccidioides immitis (Valley Fever)

    • Asymptomatic/Mild Pulmonary: Generally no treatment; supportive care.
    • Symptomatic/Progressive Lung Disease: Itraconazole or Fluconazole for 3-6 months.
    • Disseminated Disease:
      • Non-meningeal: Amphotericin B, followed by long-term azole (e.g., fluconazole).
      • Meningitis: Lifelong high-dose fluconazole.
  • Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (South American Blastomycosis)

    • Drug of Choice: Itraconazole for 6-12 months.
    • Severe/Disseminated: Amphotericin B induction, then switch to itraconazole.

⭐ Coccidioidal meningitis is a severe complication requiring lifelong suppressive therapy with high-dose fluconazole to prevent relapse.

Sporothrix & Talaromyces - Gardener's & Traveler's Troubles

  • Sporothrix schenckii (Rose Gardener's Disease)

    • Lymphocutaneous: Oral itraconazole for 3-6 months.
      • 📌 Mnemonic: "Itra-conazole for a thorny-conundrum."
    • Disseminated/Pulmonary: Lipid formulation of Amphotericin B, followed by a long course of oral itraconazole.
  • Talaromyces marneffei (formerly Penicillium marneffei)

    • Primarily seen in HIV-positive individuals in Southeast Asia.
    • Severe/Disseminated: Amphotericin B for 2 weeks, then itraconazole for 10 weeks.
    • Mild/Step-down: Itraconazole.

Sporothrix schenckii cigar-shaped yeast cells

⭐ In HIV patients from Southeast Asia, disseminated Talaromyces marneffei infection is considered an AIDS-defining illness, mimicking tuberculosis or histoplasmosis.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Itraconazole is the drug of choice for mild-to-moderate disease for most dimorphic fungi.
  • Amphotericin B is used for severe, rapidly progressing, or disseminated infections.
  • Treat any infection in immunocompromised patients aggressively, often starting with Amphotericin B.
  • Fluconazole is preferred for coccidioidal meningitis due to its high CNS penetration.
  • Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis is uniquely treated with itraconazole.
  • Coccidioidal meningitis requires lifelong fluconazole suppressive therapy.

Practice Questions: Treatment of dimorphic fungal infections

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 25-year-old nulligravid female presents to clinic complaining of abnormal vaginal discharge and vaginal pruritis. The patient's past medical history is unremarkable and she does not take any medications. She is sexually active with 3 male partners and does not use condoms. Pelvic examination is notable for a thick, odorless, white discharge. There is marked erythema and edema of the vulva. Vaginal pH is normal. Microscopic viewing of the discharge shows pseudohyphae and white blood cells. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment plan?

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Flashcards: Treatment of dimorphic fungal infections

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Great lakes and Ohio river valley are buzzwords for which fungus?_____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Great lakes and Ohio river valley are buzzwords for which fungus?_____

Blastomycosis

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