We compared the performance of four assays for the detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum samples (n = 634) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples (n = 51). Compared to latex agglutination, the sensitivity and specificity of the Premier enzyme immunoassay (EIA), Alpha CrAg EIA, and CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) were 55.6 and 100%, 100 and 99.7%, and 100 and 99.8%, respectively, from serum sa...

TOPIC: Chest Infections TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Cryptococcal pneumonia is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Many cases initially present in the lungs of those suffering from HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or on chronic immunosuppressants1. We a case 28-year-old woman with no prior medical history who develops severe cryptococcal factors ...

OBJECTIVES Cryptococcal meningitis (CM)-related mortality may be prevented by screening patients for sub-clinical cryptococcal antigenaemia (CRAG) at antiretroviral-therapy (ART) initiation and pre-emptively treating those testing positive. Prior to programmatic implementation in South Africa we performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of alternative preventive strategies for CM. DESIGN Cost-e...

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic pulmonary fungal pathogen that disseminates to the CNS causing fatal meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Dendritic cells (DCs) phagocytose C. neoformans following inhalation. Following uptake, cryptococci translocate to the DC lysosomal compartment and are killed by oxidative and non-oxidative mechanisms. DC lysosomal extracts kill cryptococci i...

Cryptococcal meningitis is an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed hosts with high morbidity and mortality. Once suffering from cryptococcal meningitis, immunocompetent patients are more likely to achieve poor outcome, because of the powerful immune response. Here we present a case of cryptococcal meningitis occurring in an immunocompetent host with no definite underlying diseases and no...