infectious diseases
Cryptococcosis
Introduction
Cryptococcosis is a pulmonary or disseminated infection acquired by inhalation of soil contaminated with the encapsulated yeastsCryptococcus neoformansorC. gattii. Symptoms are those of pneumonia, meningitis, or involvement of skin, bones, or viscera. Diagnosis is clinical and microscopic, confirmed by culture or fixed-tissue staining. Treatment, when necessary, is with azoles oramphotericin B, with or withoutflucytosine. (See also Overview of Fungal Infections .) Distribution ofC. neoformansandC. gattiiis worldwide.C. neoformansis present in soil contaminated with bird droppings, particularly those of pigeons.C. gattiihas been isolated from decayed hollows of certain tree species. Risk factorsfor cryptococcosis include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection None Hodgkin Lymphoma None Other lymphomas Sarcoidosis None Long-term corticosteroid therapy Solid organ Overview of Transplantation None Cryptococcosis is a defining opportunistic infection for AIDS (typically associated with CD4 cell counts < 100/mcL). infections in Canada, findings suggested that the disease was more likely to occur in people who are immunocompromised (eg, those who have HIV/AIDS, have a history of invasive cancer, or were treated with corticosteroids) or in people who had other lung disorders, were ≥ 50 years, or smoked tobacco ( General reference ). Outbreaks ofC. gattiiinfection have occurred in the Canadian province of British Columbia, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, Papua New Guinea, northern Australia, and in the Mediterranean region of Europe. 