Fungal Lung Infection

Aka: Fungal Lung Infection, Pulmonary Fungal Infection, Fungal Lung Disease

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II. Pathophysiology

  1. Similar presentations to Tuberculosis (although these organisms are fungal, and not contagious)
    1. Primary lung infections that may cause cavitary lesions and may cause disseminated disease
  2. Transmission
    1. Transmitted by inhaled spores (e.g. aerosolized from soil, bird droppings)
    2. No human to human transmission
    3. Dimorphic fungi (spores at 25 C, yeast cells at 37 C)

III. Causes: Pulmonary Fungal Infections in Immunocompetent Hosts

  1. Spectrum of disease
    1. Asymptomatic in most patients
    2. Acute Pneumonia (typically mild)
    3. Chronic cavitary Pneumonia (rare)
    4. Disseminated Fungal Infection (rare, but esp. Immunocompromised patients)
  2. Organisms
    1. Blastomycosis
      1. Most pathogenic when compared with Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis
    2. Coccidioidomycosis
    3. Histoplasmosis

IV. Causes: Pulmonary Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts

  1. Aspergillosis (Aspergillus Fumigatus)
    1. Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis
    2. Aspergilloma
    3. Invasive Aspergillosis

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