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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
PubMed

Insights

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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