Pneumocystis jiroveci is best described as which type of organism?

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Study for the NBEO Microbiology exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Pneumocystis jiroveci is best described as which type of organism?

Explanation:
Pneumocystis jirovecii is best described as a yeast-like fungus. It belongs to the fungal kingdom, not to bacteria or viruses, and it does not form the filamentous hyphae that define molds. In the lungs it exists as trophic forms and cysts, which you visualize with special stains rather than standard bacterial stains. Historically people thought it was a protozoan because of its appearance, but modern taxonomy places it with fungi, specifically as a yeast-like organism. Clinically, it’s a common opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, causing Pneumocystis pneumonia.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is best described as a yeast-like fungus. It belongs to the fungal kingdom, not to bacteria or viruses, and it does not form the filamentous hyphae that define molds. In the lungs it exists as trophic forms and cysts, which you visualize with special stains rather than standard bacterial stains. Historically people thought it was a protozoan because of its appearance, but modern taxonomy places it with fungi, specifically as a yeast-like organism. Clinically, it’s a common opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised patients, causing Pneumocystis pneumonia.

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