[Pleural empyema caused by Cryptococcus neoformans in a patient with liver cirrhosis]

Gram negative infections, particularly by E. coli, are usually observed in cirrhotic patients while infections by Cryptococcus neoformans are commonly found in immunosuppressed patients. The case of a cirrhotic patient with hepatitis C virus infection who developed pleural infection by C. neoformans is presented. No disease other than cirrhosis was observed in the patient. The treatment with oral fluconazole was initiated with good clinical response and infection cure. The efficacy of fluconazole in infections by this microorganism has been reported in other cases, mainly in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The fact that the patient may be a liver transplant candidate, given the hepatic cirrhosis, leads to speculation as to the need for chronic treatment with fluconazole to avoid reactivation of C. neoformans on initiation of pharmacologic immunosuppression.