title: Management of injuries caused by Cryptococcus neoformans--contaminated needles.
abstract: This report describes four skin-puncture accidents with needles that were heavily contaminated with Cryptococcus neoformans. In one accident, delayed administration of antifungal drugs resulted in a granuloma of the finger. In the other three accidents, no skin infection followed immediate prophylaxis with oral fluconazole. Our experience suggests that early therapy with fluconazole is a reasonable means of managing skin injuries caused by instruments contaminated with viable C. neoformans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casadevall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perfect
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015725:Fluconazole