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Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Size Matters: Measurement of Capsule Diameter in Cryptococcus neoformans
Published on: February 27, 2018
Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Cryptococcosis Among Individuals Without HIV Infection: An Observational
Yee-Chun Chen1,2, Sharon C A Chen3,4, Gerald McGwin5
1Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
Infections due to Cryptococcus species occur globally, mostly reported as central nervous system (CNS) infection among persons with HIV infection. Among persons without HIV infection, cryptococcosis is a growing concern both among immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised individuals. There are few detailed descriptions of these patients outside of North America and Western Europe.
Methodology:
This prospective, observational, multinational study enrolled HIV-uninfected patients with proven/probable cryptococcosis from 7 countries on 4 continents located in temperate, subtropical and tropical zones. Patients were identified based on culture, histopathology and/or serologic testing. Relevant clinical and epidemiologic data were collected.
Results:
We identified 103 subjects with proven and probable cryptococcosis. Mean age was 53.8 years and 72% were male. Predisposing conditions were present in 70 patients (68%); most commonly malignancy, non-transplant related immunosuppressive therapy, and solid organ transplantation. Median time to diagnosis in non-immunocompromised individuals was 67 days compared to 19.7, 31.3 and 61 days for organ transplant, hematologic malignancy and other conditions, respectively. Survival at 3 and 12 months was similar across all risk groups.
Conclusions:
Epidemiology, time to diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for HIV-uninfected persons with cryptococcosis in very diverse geographic regions are similar to data from North America and Western Europe.
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