REVIEW OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY

MEDICAL MYCOLOGY

1. the causative fungi often invade capillary blood vessels, producing occlusion of the vessels
2. they are highly transmissible from person to person
3. infections occur mostly in compromised hosts
4. septa are absent in hyphae of the causative agents
5. the central nervous system is often involved

(B) All of the statements listed in the question except B are correct. Phycomycoses are opportunistic mycoses. Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, leukemias, and immunodeficiencies are particularly at risk from these mycoses. These infections are usually caused by inhalation of sporangiospores that germinate and thrive in environments like the nasal, oropharyngeal, or respiratory mucosa of compromised patients. Mucormycosis typically begins in the nasal region and progresses rapidly to involve the sinuses, eyes, brain, and the meninges. The disease is not transmissible from person to person. (Joklik et al, pp. 1151-1152; Ryan et al, p. 599)

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