BACKGROUND Cryptococcus neoformans can cause serious systemic infections requiring systemic antifungal therapy in immunocompromised hosts. However, isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in nonimmunocompromised hosts has been reported to resolve spontaneously without treatment. STUDY OBJECTIVE s: To determine the role of antifungal therapy in the management of isolated pulmonary cryptococcosis in ...

BACKGROUND Cryptococcus neoformans causes life-threatening meningitis. A recently introduced lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) to detect cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) is reportedly more rapid and convenient than standard latex agglutination (LA), but has not yet been evaluated in a diagnostic laboratory setting. METHODS One hundred and six serum, 42 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and 20 urine samples ...

AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis occurring in non-HIV patients, and to develop early diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent cases as well. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 41 non-HIV infected patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital o...

Cryptococcosis caused by encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans most commonly presents as disease of the central nervous system. Cryptococcus is a non-mycelial budding yeast found in soil, pigeon droppings and their nesting places. The three 'classic' virulence factors of cryptococci are: polysaccharide capsule, melanin production and growth at 37°C. Here, we present a rare case of cryptoco...

Cryptococcus neoformans, the predominant etiological agent of cryptococcosis, is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that can cause fungal pneumonia and life-threatening infections of the central nervous system (CNS) [1]. C. neoformans can be found ubiquitously throughout the environment [1]. Inhalation of airborne yeast or desiccated basidiospores typically results in asymptomatic disease or dorma...

Background.  Cryptococcosis in the setting of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) has been associated with high mortality. We sought to compare the outcome of cryptococcal disease in patients with ESLD to that of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients and to those patients without HIV or ESLD. Methods.  We assembled a retrospective cohort of 232 consecutive cases of cryptococcosis in o...

siguiendo un patrón esporotricoide. Actas Dermosiiliogr. 2009; 100:78–80. 4. hafner C, Linde hJ, Vogt T, Breindl G, Tintelnot K, Koellner K, et al. Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis and secondary antigenemia in a patient with long-term corticosteroid therapy. Infection. 2005;33:86–9. 5. Moosbrugger EA, Adams BB, Kralovic SM. Cutaneous cryptococcosis in a patient on corticosteroid therapy for rhe...

BACKGROUND Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast and the most frequent cryptococcal species found in humans. Cryptococcosis is considered an opportunistic infection as it affects mainly immunosuppressed individuals. In humans, C. neoformans causes three types of infections: pulmonary cryptococcosis, cryptococcal meningitis and wound or cutaneous cryptococcosis. CASE PRESENTATION An...

Pulmonary cryptococcosis with lymph node involvement is relatively rare in immunocompetent patients. We report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis with massive mediastinal lymphadenopathy in an immunocompetent young patient. In this report, a 17-year-old boy presented with high-grade fever and persistent cough. Chest X-ray and computed tomography showed massive mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Endob...

A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in 302 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients who had a CD4 T-cell count <100 cells/µL and negative serum cryptococcal antigen initiating antiretroviral therapy in a resource-limited setting. During 2-year follow-up, there were no differences of survival rates and occurrences of newly diagnosed cryptococcosis between patients with a...