Question

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A 33 year old woman with invasive stage 4 breast cancer was admitted to the hospital with weakness, pulmonary distress, fever, and severe leukopenia after a bout of chemotherapy. Lung X-ray show small bilateral “fluffy" infiltrates. The doctor started an IV with amphotericin B but the fever persisted. A bronchoscopy with a biopsy was performed. Pathology smears showed septated hyphae with acute-angle branching in the tissue sample - see picture below. Culture grew in 3 days and showed the following results - see pictures below. 4 (1 points) What type of fungal infection did this woman acquire (Genus)? (2 points) What predisposed her to acquire this opportunistic organism? 4 (1 points) Normally, where is this organism found in nature? (1 points) What is the medium of choice to grow this organism in the lab (list at least 2)? (2 points) What are the global implications of this type of infection?

Answer 1

ANSWER:-

1. aspergillus

2. the woman can become immunocompromised with the treatment of breast cancer - chemotherapy casing leukopenia

3. The fungus is often found growing on dead leaves, stored grain, compost piles, or in other decaying vegetation.

4. potato dextrose agar or sabaraud's dextrose agar

5. Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous opportunistic fungal pathogen capable of causing invasive aspergillosis, a globally distributed disease with a mortality rate of up to 90% in high-risk populations.