Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis

1. General characteristics

   • Etiological agent: Cryptococcus neoformans
     • Found in bird droppings
     • Heavily encapsulated with polysaccharides
   • AIDS patients - 10% develop cryptococcal meningitis

2. Clin. issues & Dx

   • large range of clin. manifestations: pulmonary and meningitis
   • Often times asymptomatic, when symptomatic may develop pneumonia, meningitis
     • Cryptocococcal meningitis - most frequently diagnosed cryptococcal disease, present with low-grade fever, distubance in visual and mental state, may lead to coma
   • Lab dx: India ink preparation of CSF, single cell budding yeast with clear halo (presence of capsule)
   • Lab dx:Serology and culture

3. Treatment

   • Pulmonary cryptococcosis
     • Asyptomatic and self-limited
   • Cryptococcal meningitis
     • Oral fluconazole - continuation of treatment and for AIDS whole life
     • I.V. Ampho B + flucytosine