Cryptococcosis

Abstract

Cryptococcosis has become an important infection in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. Although Cryptococcus is mainly recognized by its ability to cause meningoencephalitis, it can infect almost any organ of the human body, with pulmonary infection being the second most common disease manifestation. In cases of meningitis, symptom onset may be insidious, but headaches, fevers, or mental status changes should warrant diagnostic testing. Symptoms of pulmonary disease are nonspecific and may include fever, chills, cough, malaise, night sweats, dyspnea, weight loss, and hemoptysis. Due to protean manifestations of infection, diagnosis may be delayed or misdiagnosis may occur. Diagnosis typically is made by antigen testing of serum or cerebrospinal fluid or by culture or histopathology of infected tissues. A lumbar puncture with the measurement of opening pressure is recommended for patients with suspected or proven cryptococcosis. Treatment of cryptococcosis is based on the anatomical site of disease, severity of disease, and underlying immune status of the patient. Amphotericin B preparations plus 5-flucytosine is used as initial treatment of meningitis, disseminated infection, or moderate-to-severe pulmonary infection followed by fluconazole as a consolidation therapy. Fluconazole is effective for mild-to-moderate pulmonary infection. Important complications include elevated intracranial pressure and immune reconstitution syndrome, which may resemble active disease.

Thymol and Thyme Essential Oil—New Insights into Selected Therapeutic Applications

“…In the last decade, the percentage of C. gattii infections has increased, while infections with C. albidus and C. laurentii species are rare. [ 46 ]. This pathogen mainly attacks the respiratory and nervous systems, causing pneumonia or meningitis [ 45 , 47 ].…”

“…This disease mainly affects immunocompromised patients, especially those with AIDS [ 48 ]. Over 223,000 cryptococcal meningitis cases occur worldwide each year, of which approximately 181,000 are fatal [ 46 ]. This infection is often associated with patient catheterization, artificial heart valves, or dialysis [ 49 , 50 ].…”

Cryptococcal infection in haematologic malignancies and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

“…It is considered a facultative intracellular organism due to its ability to replicate and survive in phagocytic cells for long periods. The genus Cryptococcus has over 70 species, 13 but C neoformans and C gattii are the frequent causes of cryptococcosis. With recent advancements in molecular identification, there have been changes in Cryptococcus taxonomy.…”

“…The genus Cryptococcus has over 70 species, 13 but C neoformans and C gattii are the frequent causes of cryptococcosis. With recent advancements in molecular identification, there have been changes in Cryptococcus taxonomy.…”

“…Cryptococcosis has been known to affect immunocompetent patients without any known risk factors 13,15 . The conventional risk factors include HIV, 33 diabetes mellitus, 34,35 cirrhosis, [36][37][38] idiopathic CD4 + lymphopaenia, 39 splenectomy, 40 corticosteroids, 41 chemotherapy/immunosuppression 42,43 and SOT.…”