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Published on: October 6, 2015
Cryptococcal meningitis among HIV infected patients.
G Manoharan1, B K Padmavathy, S Vasanthi
1Department of Microbiology, Perundurai Medical College, Perundurai - 638 053, Tamilnadu, India.
Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
|August 1, 2007
Summary
Cryptococcal meningitis is a significant opportunistic infection in HIV patients. Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in 34.8% of cerebrospinal fluid samples from these individuals.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
- HIV/AIDS Research
Background:
- Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection.
- It is a major cause of mortality in individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- The incidence of this infection shows geographical variability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of Cryptococcus neoformans in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from HIV-positive patients.
- To identify the prevalence of this fungal pathogen as an opportunistic infection in this population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 89 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from known HIV-positive cases over a 3-year period.
- Microbiological processing of CSF samples to identify fungal pathogens.
- Isolation and identification of Cryptococcus neoformans.
Main Results:
- Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from 31 out of 89 processed CSF specimens.
- This represents an incidence of 34.8% for Cryptococcus neoformans in the studied cohort.
- C. neoformans was the most frequently identified opportunistic pathogen in CSF samples.
Conclusions:
- Cryptococcus neoformans is a prevalent opportunistic pathogen in HIV-infected patients presenting with meningitis.
- The findings highlight the significant burden of cryptococcal meningitis in this vulnerable population.
- Regular screening for C. neoformans in CSF of HIV patients may be crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.
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