A Prospective Cohort Study of Cryptococcal  Meningitis in Hiv Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Shenoy Suchitra M; Singh Smitha; Paul Diana; Baliga Shrikala

Volume : III, Issue : VIII, August - 2013

A Prospective Cohort Study of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Hiv Patients in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Shenoy Suchitra M, Singh Smitha, Paul Diana, Baliga Shrikala

Abstract :

Cryptococcal meningitis is an AIDS defining illness caused by an encapsulated fungal organism that has more predilections for the immune compromised. This hospital based prospective cohort study was done to analyze clinical and microbiological features of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The study included demography, clinical presentation, CD4 counts, CSF analysis, microbiological diagnosis, biotype of the Cryptococcus, and the antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolates. 28 cases of Cryptococcal meningitis were confirmed during the three year study period. The CD4 count ranged from 60 to 198 cells /µl. All 28 patients were positive for culture, 71.4% were positive for India ink preparation and 89.2% were positive for Latex agglutination test. All the isolates were sensitive to Amphotericin B, Itraconazole and Voriconazole, and eight were resistant to Fluconazole. Combining all three tests can increase chances of early detection and help the clinician to initiate early antifungal therapy