title: Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis in an HIV-negative patient from the Peruvian Andes.
abstract: We report a case of an immunocompetent Peruvian patient from the Andes with a one-month history of meningoencephalitis. Cryptococcus gattii was identified from a cerebrospinal fluid culture through assimilation of D-proline and D-tryptophan as the single nitrogen source. Initially, the patient received intravenous antifungal therapy with amphotericin B. The patient was discharged 29 days after hospitalization and continued with oral fluconazole treatment for ten weeks. During this period, the patient showed clinical improvement with slight right-side residual weakness. Through this case report, we confirm the existence of this microorganism as an infectious agent in Peru.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Research, National University of San Marcos, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Ericson L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Willi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Valqui
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vilchez
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crispin
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tello
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Navincopa
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Béjar
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gonzáles
authors.forename: Alex G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ortega-Loayza
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D056285:Cryptococcus gattii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole