Clinical Features of Cryptococcosis Patients and Evaluation of the Diagnostic Tests

Won, Dong Il; Lee, Kyungwon; Kim, Hyon Suk; Chong, Yunsop

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Cryptococcus neoformans is an increasingly important pathogen in the immunosuppressed hosts. The aim of this study was to determine any change of the clinical features and to evaluate the laboratory diagnosis in cryptococcosis patients.
METHODS
The clinical features of cryptococcsis patients who were diagnosed in Severance Hospital during the 1983~1995 were reviewed retrospectively and various diagnostic laboratory tests, especially latex cryptococcal antigen test were evaluated.
RESULTS
The number of crytococcosis patients increased over the years. Twenty-six patients had various underlying diseases including two AIDS patients. Of the 43 patients, 41(95%) had CNS infections, while the patients with non-CNS infections were 10(23%). Latex antigen test, culture, India ink preparation, and Gram stain were positive in 100%, 87 %, 60% and 51%, respectively. Positivity of latex antigen test, India ink preparation, and culture persisted in average 69 days, 26 days, and 12 days, respectively in recovered patients.
CONCLUSION
The number of cryptococcosis patients is an increasing trend in the Severance Hospital probably due to the increase of immunocompromised patients, and latex antigen test is a highly sensitive and reliable screening test for the laboratory diagnosis.