Fungal Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

These are the MediaLab courses that cover Fungal and links to relevant pages within the course.

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Cerebrospinal Fluid
Monocytes (continued) Monocytes are also present in this field. Increased numbers of monocytes may be seen in chronic bacterial meningitis, multiple sclerosis, fungal meningitis, CNS malignant disorders or CNS hemorrhage.	View Page

CLIA Chemistry / Urinalysis Review
Which of the following statement about synovial fluid is true:	View Page

CLIA Hematology / Hemostasis Review
The predominant cells seen on the CSF smear in this illustration are indicative of:	View Page
The large number of these cells seen in the CSF cytocentrifuged smear in this illustration is suggestive of:	View Page
A low CSF glucose level is associated with all the following except:	View Page
CSF lymphocytosis is associated with all of the following except:	View Page

Mycology: Hyaline and Dematiaceous Fungi
An Aspergillus species was recovered from a sputum specimen of a patient with X-ray evidence of fungal pneumonia. Microscopic examination did not permit a species identification. A small amount of vegetative mycelium was removed and a direct mount prepared. The features indicated by the red arrows in this image are associated with which Aspergillus species?	View Page
The differentiation between Aspergillus species and Scedosporium species may be difficult when only hyphal elements are observed in stained tissue sections. It is important to obtain a culture to make this differentiation when possible because Scedosporium species, in contrast to Aspergillus species, tend to be resistant to:	View Page
A dull white fungus, turning mouse gray on maturity, was recovered from material aspirated from a bone cyst in the upper femur. Based on the microscopic appearance as seen in a lactophenol blue mount of a portion of the colony, the most likely identification is:	View Page
Match each of the names of the fungal species listed with the corresponding identifying structures illustrated in the photomicrographs:	View Page
Match the names of each of the fungal species listed in the drop-down box with the corresponding identifying structures illustrated in the photomicrographs:	View Page
Match the name of each fungal species listed with its most likely corresponding morphologic features.	View Page
Match the name of each fungal species listed in the drop-down box with its most likely corresponding morphologic feature.	View Page
The fungal species most likely associated with the granulomatous infection seen in this photomicrograph, illustrating segmented, dark brown-staining grains with a giant cell is:	View Page
The infrequently encountered mold that is represented by the photomicrograph begins as a gray-white colony that blackens with maturity as the hyphae become darkened and single, globose, black conidia are produced. This fungus can be identified as:	View Page
The black yeast colony illustrated in this photograph may represent any of the following dematiaceous molds except:	View Page

Mycology: Yeasts and Dimorphic Pathogens
Match each of the names of the dimorphic fungal species with its corresponding mold form as seen in the photomicrographs.	View Page
Match each of the diseases listed in the drop-down box with the name of its most likely associated dimorphic fungal species.	View Page
Arrange the fungal species that are listed in the drop-down box according to length of time of recovery in primary culture; from most rapid to the slowest.	View Page
Each of the following dimorphic fungal infections have been observed in animals living in their natural environment except:	View Page
Which of the following fungal infections was once known as "Chicago disease" because so many cases had occurred in the Chicago area?	View Page
Although care should be taken when working with all fungus cultures in the laboratory, personnel are particularly prone to develop laboratory acquired infections from the inhalation of airborne species of:	View Page
The ingredient added to culture media to enhance the recovery of the dimorphic fungi by preventing the overgrowth of more rapidly growing, saprophytic molds is:	View Page
Match each of the fungal species listed below with the appropriate category, indicating whether or not it has the capability of producing pseudohyphae on cornmeal agar.	View Page
Shown in this photomicrograph is a Gomori methenamine silver stain of a lung biopsy obtained from a patient with X-ray evidence of multi-focal pneumonitis. The yeast most likely to be recovered in culture of this tissue is:	View Page

Reading Gram Stained Direct Smears
Fungal hyphae Tubular filaments of fungi called hyphae may also be seen in a direct smear. Hyphae stain Gram positive and may branch or intertwine. Parasites can also be identified with the Gram stain, although it is not as sensitive as the special stains used for parasites. The Gram stain reaction and appearance can be used to identify most cellular material seen in a direct smear. The crystal violet may precipitate and can be seen on the slide. If the stain has precipitated, it must be refiltered before use.	View Page
Size and Appearance of Cellular Elements Epithelial cells are larger than white blood cells and red blood cells, and contain a single nucleus. White blood cells (pus cells) usually show a segmented nucleus. Red blood cells are 1/2 to 2/3 as large as white blood cells, contain no nucleus, and are gram negative.Hyphae are gram positive tubular filamentous fungal elements which may show branching or intertwining. Yeast cells are round to oval, often budding, gram positive fungal elements, about the same size as RBCs. They are generally much larger than bacteria.	View Page
Significance of Specific Findings: Epithelial cells in large numbers within sputum smears means that the specimen is predominantly oral saliva, rather than true sputum from the lung. Epithelial cells in urine smears indicate that the sample has been contaminated by organisms found on the vulva or distal urethra. Bacteria found near or on epithelial cells are usually normal contaminating bacterial flora.White blood cells indicate inflammation and possible infection. The direct smear examination should focus within and around these cells.Red blood cells in a direct smear are not usually significant.Yeast may be present as normal flora in upper respiratory tract or genital tract. They may be significant if they predominate, or if budding yeast forms are seen.Hyphae are more likely to indicate the presence of fungal infection, but this determination requires correlation with clinical findings.Bacteria found in spinal fluid, blood, tissue and specimens from other sterile sites are always significant.Body fluids which are normally sterile must be examined carefully. If only one organism per oil immersion field is identified, then there are about 105 organisms per mL present in the sample! Bacteria observed in specimens from the throat, genital tract and other areas containing normal flora suggest infection only if their composition and type varies significantly from the norm.	View Page