Symptoms are Key
A patient with high hemoglobin, hematocrit and skin tenting on physical exam. Patient says they have gone to the bathroom at least 4 times today. You guess your patient may be infected with this pathogen.
What is Cryptosporidium?
Patients whose CD4 count falls below 250 cells/microL are at a higher risk for lung infections caused by this fungus.
What is Coccidioides?
You stopped taking your tenofovir alafenamide while on vacay for two weeks? Better switch it up to avoid this unfortunate result.
What is developing a resistant strain of HIV?
Patient tells you they have noticed their tongue is very furry these days. You examine their mouth and find that their tongue is no longer pink, but white. They may be infected with this pathogen.
What is Candida albicans?
Your patient was recently laid off and no longer has insurance. As a result they have decided to space out the time they take their ART medications in an effort to make them last as long as possible. Their CD4 count has fallen below 200 cells/microL. You warn the patient that they may be more susceptible to infections by this microbe.
What is pneumocystis jirovecii?
Your patient presents with multiple nodules on the roof of their mouth. You also notice large discolored, raised areas along their nose. You suspect this is the result of cell cycle dysregulation due to infection by this pathogen.
What is Human Herpesvirus 8?
All patients positive for HIV are screened for infection of this pathogen, regardless of symptoms or CD4 count.
What is tuberculosis?
Your patient being treated for recent positive HIV test comes to you with a chief concern of fever and muscle aches for a week's duration. She is pregnant and worried she may make her baby sick as well. You ask if she has a cat. She says, "Yes, the same cat I've had since I was a kid. How did you know?"
What is Toxoplasma?
Candida albicans dissemination past the epithelial cells is facilitated by this characteristic of the fungus.
What is dimorphism?
Your patient comes in with a chief concern of painful, bloodshot eyes. They are starting to notice the vision in their left eye is starting to become blurry, making it hard for them to drive.
What is Cytomegalovirus?
You prescibed your patient itraconazole for this infectious microbe after they developed a fever with a bad cough after starting their new job as a farmhand. Their general duties involve milking the cows, cleaning the chicken coops, and collecting eggs.
What is Histoplasma capsulatum?
Infection by this pathogen is almost never seen outside of patients with HIV that has progressed to AIDS.
What is Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)?
Your patient who is HIV positive comes to your office with a chief concern of nausea and vomiting after meals and very dark colored urine. You examine their stomach and notice their skin is a greenish-yellow hue. You suspect they may be infected with these two infectious pathogens.
What is hepatitis B and C?
Your patient comes into your office complaining of a recent fever and cough and now a stiff, painful neck. Her CD4 count has fallen to 90 cells/microL as she recently ran out of her "HIV pills." she is most likely suffering from an infection by this fungus.
What is Cryptococcus?
It is common to see untreated patients who are positive for HIV develop infections from pathogens they got sick from years ago. This is due to lack of immune stimulation of these kinds of immune cells.
What are B and T cells?