Fungal Culture Tissue
What is this test?
Fungal culture tissue is performed on a sample of tissue to check for the fungal growth on it. This test helps to know whether you have a superficial or a deep tissue fungal infection.
What is a superficial or a deep tissue fungal infection?
Fungal organisms are found anywhere in the environment. They exist as two forms yeasts and molds. The fungal organisms that exhibit a temperature-dependent switch between these two forms are known as dimorphic. These organisms can cause infections in individuals with poor immunity.
Candida species are the most common form of yeasts that cause fungal infections. These fungal organisms cause bloodstream infection with involvement of other organs. Cryptococcus species are another form of yeasts which can cause infections especially in individuals with poor immunity. Aspergillus genus members are a form of molds which can cause diseases and can trigger the allergic reactions in many individuals. Rhizopus, Mucor, Rhizomucor etc are other forms of molds that rarely cause infection. Histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, sporotrichosis, coccidioidomycosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, and chromoblastomycosis are fungi that are dimorphic in nature. These fungal organisms exist as yeast form in infected individuals (host) and as a mold form in the environment.
Fungal infections can occur in two ways: a superficial fungal infection or a deep tissue fungal infection. A superficial fungal infection occurs only the skin and is mainly caused by dermatophytes or yeasts. These infections are not very serious and rarely cause serious illness.
Deep tissue fungal infections can be subcutaneous fungal infections (on or under the skin) and systemic mycoses (infections affecting internal organs). Subcutaneous fungal infections or local fungal infections involve the skin, mouth and/or vagina. It can occur in normal individuals and who have poor immunity. Systemic mycoses (fungal infections) affects the internal organs. In these infections, the fungi enter the body through the gut, via the lungs or skin. It spreads through the bloodstream and affects many internal organs and sometimes cause death. It mainly occurs in individuals with poor immunity but can also develop in normal individuals.
Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Coccidioides immitis, etc are the common fungal organisms that cause tissue fungal infections in normal individuals. Candida species, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus species, etc are the common fungal organisms that cause tissue fungal infections in individuals with poor immunity. The main signs and symptoms of tissue fungal infections are fever, cough, loss of appetite, etc. If it is systemic mycoses the signs and symptoms may vary according to the affected organ.
Why this test is performed?
This test is performed as part of routine health screening or to determine the presence of fungal growth on a tissue sample. Your doctor may ask to perform this test if you experience any signs and symptoms of tissue fungal infections such as fever, cough, loss of appetite, fatigue, etc. This test is also performed to monitor and evaluate the treatment effectiveness in individuals receiving treatment for tissue fungal infections. However, your doctor may ask to perform a susceptibility testing on the fungi isolated from this culture test to determine the antifungal treatment.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Fungal Culture Tissue. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Fungal Culture Tissue.
No specific preparation is required for this test. However, follow all the instructions given by your healthcare provider.
Understanding your test results
The test results may be vary depending on gender, age, health conditions, and other factors.
If the culture test is positive it may indicate the growth of fungal organisms on the sample of tissue. It may indicate the presence of tissue fungal infections. However, a few more additional tests may also be performed depending on the suspected cause and typical results, along with the physical symptoms to diagnose the exact infection.
If the culture test is negative it means no growth of fungal organisms is detected from the tissue sample
Based on the test results, your doctor may advise you appropriate medical treatments or further diagnostic tests.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| UNISEX | All age groups | The growth observed depends on the type of the fungal organism that grows |