Medically Important Yeasts

Medically Important Yeasts

1. Cryptococcus

   • Causes cryptococcosis
     • Pulmonary or disseminated infection that causes pneumonia, meningitis, and sometimes skin and bone infections.
   • Contracted from exposure to contaminated soil and bird droppings
     • Inhalation of spores
       • Progression of disease occurs through hematogenous dissemination
   • Yeast in the anamorph stage
     • Encapsulated unicellular yeast
   • Causes meningitis
     • Diagnosed from analysis of CSF via culture, staining, and immunodiagnostic tests.
       • Low WBC count, low glucose, and high protein
       • Stained via india ink to show capsule
       • Detection of antigen provides definitive diagnosis
   • Species are distinguished by growth features on CGBB agar
     • Canavanine-glycine bromothymol blue agar
   • Species
     • C. gatti
       • Associated with infections in the immunocompetent
     • C. neoformans
       • Associated with infections in the immunocompromised

2. Candida

   • Species
     • C. albicans
       • Causes thrush, vulvovaginitis, and esophagitis
     • C. glabrata
     • C. tropicalis
     • C. parasilosis coplex
     • C. krusei
   • Intravascular access line related fungemia, fungal endocarditis, and disseminated infections from the bloodstream
   • May produce pseudohyphae or hyaline septate hyphae

3. Rhodotorula

4. Malassezia

5. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

6. Triosporon

7. Blastoschizomyces

8. Pneumocystis

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