infectious diseases
Cryptosporidiosis
Key Points
Cryptosporidiosis spreads easily because fecal excretion of oocysts persists for weeks after symptoms resolve, a very small number of oocysts are required for infection, and oocysts are difficult to remove by conventional water filtration and are resistant to chlorination. Watery diarrhea with cramping is usually self-limited but can be severe and lifelong in patients with AIDS. Diagnose using enzyme immunoassay for fecalCryptosporidiumantigen and microscopic stool examination; the latter is less sensitive and requires specialized techniques (eg, phase-contrast microscopy, acid-fast staining). For people without AIDS, usenitazoxanideif symptoms persist. Treat people with AIDS with ART; symptoms may abate when the immune system improves with ART. Nitazoxanidecan improve symptoms but does not cure infection in persons with AIDS. 