Cryptococcosis

Abstract

In the past 2 decades, Cryptococcus has emerged in its clinical significance and as a model yeast for understanding molecular pathogenesis. C neoformans and C gattii are currently considered major primary and secondary pathogens in a wide array of hosts that are known to be immunocompromised or apparently immunocompetent. A recent outbreak of C gattii infections further underscores the clinical importance of the yeast through its epidemiology and pathogenicity features. With an enlarging immunosuppressed population caused by HIV infection, solid organ transplantation, and clinical use of potent immunosuppressives, such as cancer chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, and corticosteroids, this fungus has become a well-established infectious complication of modern medicine. This article examines current issues in cryptococcal infections, including new classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, and specific clinical aspects.

ECIL recommendations for the use of biological markers for the diagnosis of invasive fungal diseases in leukemic patients and hematopoietic SCT recipients

“…1,10 A systematic review of the manuscripts published after 1 January 1998 was performed in order to confirm the established utility of Cryptococcus Ag testing in disseminated cryptococcosis, Cryptococcus meningitis and pulmonary cryptococcosis. 29 Seven studies, mostly retrospective (6/7) and single-centre (4/7), were included for the analysis of diagnostic performance. [30][31][32][33][34][35][36] The sensitivity of serum Ag was higher than that of blood cultures (87% vs 42%), and it was higher in AIDS patients (in whom disseminated disease with fungemia is most frequently observed) when compared with non-HIV immunocompromised subjects (95% vs 77%).…”

Cryptococcus gattii meningoencephalitis in an HIV-negative patient from the Peruvian Andes

“…Cryptococcus neoformans is subdivided in three varieties and five serotypes: Cryptococcus grubii (serotype A), Cryptococcus neoformans (serotypes D and AD) and Cryptococcus gattii (serotypes B and C) 1 . C. gattii (serotypes B and C) is mainly found in tropical and subtropical climates, predominately affecting immunocompetent individuals, and is isolated from a variety of environmental sources 1 .…”

“…C. gattii (serotypes B and C) is mainly found in tropical and subtropical climates, predominately affecting immunocompetent individuals, and is isolated from a variety of environmental sources 1 . Meningoencephalitis caused by C. gattii in apparently immunocompetent HIV-seronegative individuals occurs throughout tropical latitudes, and particularly in parts of South-East Asia and Australia 1 .…”

Fungal Infections in Transplant and Oncology Patients

“…Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gatti [50] represent the main pathogenic species in the genus Cryptococcus [51]. While cryptococcosis has been most commonly encountered in the HIV infected population [52], a multicenter study reporting 306 cases of cryptococcosis in non-HIV-infected patients found 0.7% of total cases occurred in HSCT recipients, 18% in SOT recipients, 9% in patients with hematologic malignancies, and 9% in patients with other malignancies [53].…”