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Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi
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Cryptococcosis of the upper genital tract
Manish Gopal1, Stacy McCrosson, Pamela Edmonds
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. manishgopal@yahoo.com
AIDS Patient Care and Stds
|February 25, 2009
Summary
This case report details a rare upper genital tract infection by Cryptococcus neoformans in a woman with AIDS. The infection presented as chronic menorrhagia and led to disseminated cryptococcosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Gynecologic Pathology
Background:
- Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Disseminated cryptococcosis typically affects the central nervous system, lungs, and skin.
- Infection of the female upper genital tract by C. neoformans is exceptionally rare.
Observation:
- A 34-year-old woman with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with severe, intractable menorrhagia.
- She also exhibited fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, unresponsive to conventional treatments.
- Surgical intervention revealed granulomatous peritonitis and prominent myometrial blood vessels.
Findings:
- Histologic examination confirmed cryptococcal infection involving the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
- This represents the first reported case of upper genital tract involvement by Cryptococcus neoformans.
- The patient's presentation was complicated by profuse vaginal bleeding attributed to the infection.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider C. neoformans infection in the differential diagnosis of severe vaginal bleeding in immunocompromised women, particularly those with AIDS.
- This case highlights the potential for disseminated cryptococcosis to manifest in unusual sites.
- Early recognition and appropriate antifungal therapy are crucial for managing this rare but potentially life-threatening condition.
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