Fungal pneumonia is a type of lung infection caused by fungi. It is most common in immunocompromised individuals. Symptoms are similar to bacterial and viral pneumonia and include cough, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and difficulty breathing. Diagnosis involves culturing respiratory fluids or detecting fungal antigens. Treatment consists of antifungal drugs like amphotericin B and voriconazole. Prognosis depends on underlying conditions and can be as high as 90% mortality in immunocompromised patients if not treated promptly.

1. “FUNGAL
PNEUMONIA”

2. WHAT IS PNEUMONIA??
Pneumonia Is An Infection Of One Or Both
Lungs.
Which Is Usually Caused By Bacteria,
Viruses, Or Fungi.

3. FUNGAL PNEUMONIA
• Fungal pneumonia is a type of lung infection caused by
FUNGI.
• Though this condition is uncommon in most people, those
with compromised immune systems due to certain types of
infection, such as HIV, are at an increased risk of
developing fungal pneumonia.
• The symptoms of fungal pneumonia are similar to those
experienced by people with bacterial or viral pneumonia
• Case mortality in fungal pneumonias can be as high as 90%
in immunocompromised patients

4. “CAUSES”
• Histoplasmosis:- which has primary pulmonary lesions and hematogenous
dissemination.
• Coccidioidomycosis:-which begins with an often self-limited respiratory infection
(also called "Valley fever" or "San Joaquin fever").
• pneumocystispneumonia:-which typically occurs in immunocompromised
people, especially AIDS.
• cryptococcosis:-contracted through inhalation of soil contaminated with the yeast, it
can manifest as a pulmonary infection and as a disseminated one

5. “PATHOPHYSIOLOGY”
• Fungi typically enter the lung with inhalation of their spores, though they can
reach the lung through the bloodstream if other parts of the body are infected.
Also, fungal pneumonia can be caused by reactivation of a latent infection.
Once inside the alveoli, fungi travel into the spaces between the cells and also
between adjacent alveoli through connecting pores. This invasion triggers the
immune system to respond by sending white blood cells responsible for
attacking microorganisms (neutrophils) to the lungs. The neutrophils engulf
and kill the offending organisms but also release cytokines which result in a
general activation of the immune system. This results in the fever, chills, and
fatigue common in bacterial and fungal pneumonia. The neutrophils and fluid
leaked from surrounding blood vessels fill the alveoli and result in impaired
oxygen transportation.

6. SYMPTONS
Cough:- Fungi within the lungs can
irritate and inflame a person & airway
passages. This inflammation can lead
to symptoms of cough which is usually
dry although mucus (sometimes blood
stained) may be seen in a productive
cough that can develop later.
Chest pain:- which may initially
start as discomfort particularly when
inhaling.

7. • Weight loss:-A person with fungal pneumonia can experience unintended
weight loss as a symptom of infection. Weight loss can occur in conjunction
with fever and may contribute to symptoms of fatigue.
• Fatigue:-Fungal pneumonia can cause fatigue. Fatigue symptoms can also
occur in conjunction with muscle or body aches. Affected people may need to
sleep for longer periods throughout the day and can have difficulty remaining
alert and attentive.

8. • Fever:- Fever symptoms can arise in people who have fungal pneumonia.
Typically fever symptoms exceed 100.5 degrees F and persist for several days.
People who develop a fever can also experience unusual sweating, chills or
headache symptoms. Additionally, a fever can cause a person skin to appear
flushed or be warm to the touch.
• Difficulty Breathing:- Lung inflammation due to the presence of a
fungal infection can cause constriction of a person airways. Airway
constriction makes it harder for oxygen to reach the lungs, leading to breathing
difficulties in people with fungal pneumonia. Affected people can experience
unusual shortness of breath, especially during or after physical activity. When
oxygen can reach the lungs in an efficient manner, affected people can also
experience sensations of pain or tightness in the chest. Severe breathing
difficulties can cause a person skin or nails to appear blue in color due to lack
of oxygen. Persistent or severe breathing problems can be a serious medical
problem that requires prompt attention from a physician.

9. “Diagnosis”
Fungal pneumonia can be diagnosed in a
number of ways. The simplest and cheapest
method is to culture the fungus from a
patient's respiratory fluids. However, such
tests are not only insensitive but take time to
develop which is a major drawback because
studies have shown that slow diagnosis of
fungal pneumonia is linked to high mortality.
Microscopy is another method but is also slow
and imprecise. Supplementing these classical
methods is the detection of antigens. This
technique is significantly faster but can be
less sensitive and specific than the classical
methods.

10. • A molecular test based on quantitative PCR is also available
from Myconostica. Relying on DNA detection, this is the
most sensitive and specific test available for fungi but it is
limited to detecting only pneumocystis jirovecii and
aspergillus

11. “TREATMENT”
• Fungal pneumonia can be treated with antifungal drugs and sometimes by surgical
debridement.

13. • Although antifungal medication is very effective in treating fungal pneumonia, the
mortality rate is quite high in some instances. This is largely due to the delay in
seeking medical treatment and the fact that people who develop fungal pneumonia
are often immune compromised. Therefore it is imperative to treat the underlying
condition that is contributing to the immune deficiency, although this may not
always be possible.
• Antifungal Drugs:-
Amphotericin B is the mainstay of treatment, particularly in
acutely ill patients.
Voriconazole and other azoles are preferred over amphotericin B these days especially
for aspergillosis.
Echinocandins like anidulafungin, caspofungin and micafungin are used for Candida
infections