Cryptococcal infection in patients with clinically diagnosed meningitis in a tertiary care center.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2003-09-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
A retrospective analysis of 326 clinically diagnosed cases with meningitis over a period of five-and-a-half years was carried out to determine the prevalence of cryptococcal infection, its associated risk factors and therapeutic outcome. Fifty-four (16.6%) patients with cryptococcal meningitis were identified by smear examination, culture and/or cryptococcal antigen latex agglutination test. Records of 45 cryptococcal meningitis patients were available; 18 (40%) of them were apparently healthy immunocompetent individuals, 13 (28.9%) had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, 9 (20%) were renal transplant recipients, 4 (8.9%) were diabetic and 1 (2.2%) had systemic lupus erythematosus. Ten (22.2%) patients died and 11 (24.4%) patients (all HIV-positive) left against medical advice. The present study indicates that cryptococcal infection is associated with high mortality. Presenting symptoms being indistinguishable from other causes of central nervous system infection, all patients with a clinical diagnosis of meningitis, irrespective of their immune status should be investigated for cryptococcal infection.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Prasad KN, Agarwal J, Nag VL, Verma AK, Dixit AK, Ayyagari A. Cryptococcal infection in patients with clinically diagnosed meningitis in a tertiary care center. Neurology India. 2003 Sep; 51(3): 364-6