Fungal infection site: Introduction, importance of fungalinfection and its lab

Fungal Infection Site: Introduction, Importance of Fungal Infection and Its Lab Diagnosis

Fungal Infection Site

The fungal infection site is due to Ochroconis gallopava as shown above image. According to the site of infections are fungal infection site is divided into four groups and they are-

Superficial mycoses: The filamentous fungi which cause superficial disease in humans may be broadly divided into two groups. Primarily the dermatophytes, natural group-related fungi causing the disease tinea or ringworm in various forms. Secondarily a miscellaneous group of unrelated filamentous fungi may be saprophytes or plant pathogens which produce clinical conditions of skin, hair, nail, eye, or ear, causing Tinea Nigra (Hortaea werneckii) , Piedra (Trichosporon and Piedraia hortae), and Malassezia infections.
Cutaneous mycoses: It is caused by dermatophytes a group of three genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton.
Subcutaneous mycoses: It is localized, spreading infections that result from the inoculation into the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue of wide saprophytic fungi are Chromobalstomycosis, Mycetoma, Sporotrichosis, Rhinosporidiosis.
Systemic mycoses: The fungi which cause the deep or systemic mycoses are Histoplasmosis, Blastomycosis, Cryptococcosis, Coccidioidosis, Paracoccidioidosis.

Importance of Fungal Infections or Diseases and Their Laboratory Diagnosis

Fungal infections or diseases are difficult to manage because of the following reasons-

they tend to be chronic,
hard to diagnose,
and difficult to eradicate with anti-fungal drugs.
In the near horizon, the prevalence of fungal diseases is likely to increase, as there will be more hosts with impaired immunity and drug resistance will inevitably increase after selection by anti-fungal drug use.
There is a need in progress in the development of new drugs, diagnostics, vaccines, and immunotherapies.
On the far horizon, humanity may face new fungal diseases in association with climate change.
Some current associations between chronic diseases and fungal infections could lead to the establishment of fungi as causative agents, which will not greatly enhance their medical importance but also longer hospital stay and economic burden.

Fungal Infections Laboratory Diagnosis can be carried out under the following points
Specimens
Direct Examination of specimens
Macroscopy
Microscopy ( KOH preparation, staining techniques, direct immunofluorescence, and histology)

Culture and isolation

Identification of culture growth

Colony character
Microscopy ( Tease mount, cellophane tape preparation, and slide culture)
Nucleic acid probes
An indirect method based on host immune response
Skin testing
Serological tests
Miscellaneous tests for the identification of yeasts and molds.

General Aspects for Fungal Infection
Specimen

The laboratory diagnosis of a fungal disease starts with the collection of the appropriate specimen. The specimen must contain the viable etiological agent, to be recovered and identified. The anatomical site in which the organism is present must be carefully selected and the specimen collected in such a manner that it will allow the fungus to remain viable in its natural state, with no contamination.
The following are guidelines for specimen collection:

The specimen should be collected from an active lesion, old ‘burned–out’ lesions often do not contain viable organisms.
Collect the specimen under aseptic conditions.
Collect sufficient specimens.
Collect specimen before initiating therapy.
Use sterile collection devices and containers
Label the specimens appropriately.
All clinical specimens should be considered as potential biohazards and should be handled with care using universal precautions.

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