Cryptococcus and lymphocytic meningitis in Botswana.
We retrospectively reviewed microbiological data from a tertiary care hospital in Botswana, and found that Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from 15% (193/1307) of all cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens submitted for analysis, making it the most common diagnosed cause of meningitis in this population. Moreover, almost 70% of CSF samples with significant lymphocytosis did not yield a pathogen, suggesting that many causes of lymphocytic meningitis go undiagnosed.
Bisson
Gregory P
GP
Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. bisson@mail.med.upenn.edu
Lukes
John
J
Thakur
Ramishwari
R
Mtoni
Isaac
I
MacGregor
Rob Roy
RR
D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies