Fungal Infections in Humans (by LabCE)

2 P.A.C.E. contact hour(s)

(based on 526 customer ratings)

Author: Timothy Walls, M.D., M.S.
Reviewer: Ryan Relich, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)SM

Course provided by LabCE.

Upon completion of the course, the reader will have accomplished several skills: recognize the geographic distribution and anatomical predilection of the primary fungi causing human disease, recognize the clinical manifestation of disease, and identify pathogenic fungi through their unique distinguishing features such as culture growth characteristics and morphology.

See more courses in: Microbiology

Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 2 hour(s)
Course number 578-029-21, approved through 4/30/2023
Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - General (Microbiology/Mycology/Parasitology): 2 hour(s)
Course number 20-846058, approved through 4/30/2023

Objectives

  • Identify the primary fungi that cause disease in humans and their anatomic areas of predilection
  • Describe the clinical manifestations of mycotic infection
  • List the current and emerging techniques for diagnosis of infection

Customer Ratings

(based on 526 customer ratings)

Course Outline

  • Medically important fungi
      • Yeast, Molds, and Thermally Dimorphic Fungi
  • Yeast
      • Yeast
      • Cryptococcus - Introduction
      • Cryptococcus Around the World
      • Cryptococcal Infections
      • Cryptococcus - Identification
      • Candida species
      • Candida glabrata
      • Rhodotorula
      • Malassezia
      • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
      • Trichosporon
      • Trichosporon, continued
      • Blastoschizomyces (Geotrichum)
  • Molds
      • Molds
    • Aspergillus
      • Aspergillus
      • Aspergillus, continued
      • Aspergillus niger
    • Fusarium
      • Fusarium
    • Dermatophytes
      • Dermatophytes (Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton) - Introduction
      • Dermatophytes (Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton)
      • Dermatophytes (Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton)
      • Dermatophytes (Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton)
      • Dermatophytes (Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton)
      • Dermatophytes (Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Trichophyton)
    • Dematiaceous Molds
      • Dematiaceous molds - Introduction
      • Dematiaceous Molds, continued
      • Dematiaceous molds - Alternaria
      • Dematiaceous molds - Scedosporium
    • Mucormycetes
      • Mucormycetes (Zygomycetes) - Introduction
      • Mucormycetes, continued
  • Dimorphic Fungi
      • Dimorphic Fungi
      • Dimorphic Fungi - Introduction
      • Dimorphic fungi-Coccidioides spp.
      • Dimorphic fungi-Coccidioides spp.
      • Dimorphic fungi - Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
      • Dimorphic fungi-Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
      • Dimorphic fungi-Blastomyces spp.
      • Dimorphic fungi-Blastomyces spp., continued
      • Dimorphic fungi- Histoplasma spp.
      • Dimorphic fungi - Histoplasmosis
      • Dimorphic fungi - Sporothrix schenckii
      • Dimorphic fungi - Talaromyces marneffei
  • References
      • References

Additional Information

Level of instruction: Basic to intermediate 

Intended audience:  This course is intended for microbiology bench technicians and technologists, supervisors, and administrators. 

Course Description:  Upon completion of the course, the reader will have accomplished several skills: recognize the geographic distribution and anatomical predilection of the primary fungi causing human disease, recognize the clinical manifestation of disease, and identify pathogenic fungi through their unique distinguishing features such as culture growth characteristics and morphology.

Author information: Timothy Walls, M.D., M.S., is an AP/CP boarded pathologist. He has completed fellowships in medical microbiology as well as molecular genetic pathology. Currently he is the Director of Clinical Laboratories at Sentara Reference Laboratories. Timothy has earned his B.S. in Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Tennessee, his M.S. in Forensic Science at Drexel University and his M.D. from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Reviewer information: Ryan Relich, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS(ASCP)SM is a medical microbiologist. He serves as the interim Medical Director of the Indiana University (IU) Health Division of Clinical Microbiology, Medical Director of the IU Health Special Pathogens Unit Laboratory, Associate Medical Director of the IU Health Division of Molecular Pathology, and Section Director of Clinical Microbiology and Serology Laboratories for Eskenazi Health. Dr. Relich is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at IU School of Medicine, and conducts both applied and translational research in the areas of diagnostic test development and evaluation; novel and emerging virus ecology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis; and pandemic preparedness. Dr. Relich holds a PhD in microbiology (Miami University), a BS in medical technology (Clarion University of Pennsylvania), and a BS in molecular biology and biotechnology (Clarion University of Pennsylvania), as well as certifications through the American Board of Medical Microbiology and American Society for Clinical Pathology.

How to Subscribe
Single online course$20
Add to cart
  • Order for instant access through any computer, any browser.
  • No shipping, faxing, or waiting for certificates.
  • Print or save your certificate of completion as soon as you've completed the course.
  • You'll have 90 days to complete your purchased courses.
Course provided by LabCE.
Alternaria Lactophenol cotton blue demonstrating a chain of conidia. The spores of Alternaria species are multicellular, pigmented, and are produced in straight chains, or branching chains. The end of the conidium nearest the conidiophore is rounded, and tapers towards its apex, imparting a beak-lik


Aspergillus fumigatus demonstrating filamentous conidiophore, which ends in a bulbous, spheroid-shaped vesicle. Atop the distal two-thirds of this vesicle, a uniseriate, i.e., single row, of phialides sprout, each of which anchors its respective chain of spherical conidiospores, which are the asexua


Coccidioides slant culture


Candida albicans GMS


Epidermophyton floccosum lactophenol cotton blue demonstrating septate hyphae, and smooth, thin-walled, club-shaped, multicellular macroconidia.


Sporothrix culture plate


Trichosporon hair shaft


Tricophyton rubrum culture plate demonstrating colonial morphology which is flat to cottony, and raised and ruffled at its center. The frontal coloration can range from a white to bright yellowish-beige and even to a red-violet coloration. From the reverse, the colonies display a coloration that is



 
ASCLS CE's design and platform are provided by MediaLab, Inc.