Clinical and mycological profile of cryptococcosis in a tertiary care hospital.
This study examined the extent of cryptococcosis in clinically diagnosed cases of meningitis in HIV-1 seropositive and apparently immunocompetent patients. One hundred and forty-six samples, obtained from 126 chronic meningitis patients comprised of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, sputum and urine. The samples were processed by standard microbiological procedures. Cryptococcal isolates were identified by microscopy, cultural characteristics, melanin production on niger seed agar and hydrolysis of urea. The isolates were further speciated on cannavanine glycine bromothymol blue (CGB) media. Cryptococcal antigen detection of CSF samples was performed by latex agglutination test (LAT). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amphotericin B for the isolates was also tested. Cryptococcosis was diagnosed in 13 patients (eight HIV-1 seropositive and five apparently immunocompetent). Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans was the predominant isolate. Cryptococcal antigen was detected in all, whereas microscopy could detect yeast cells in nine patients. The isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B. CD4 cell counts ranged from 8 to 96/cu mm. The study concludes that all CSF samples with clinical diagnosis of subacute and chronic meningitis should be subjected to tests for detection of Cryptococcus in clinical laboratory irrespective of the immune status.
Capoor
M R
MR
Department of Microbiology, Vardhman Mahaveer Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi - 110 029, India. rajeevmalini@rediffmail.com
Nair
D
D
Deb
M
M
Gupta
B
B
Aggarwal
P
P
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D008543:Melanins; D000666:Amphotericin B; D014508:Urea