Abstract

MONACO, L. S.  and  TAMAYO ANTABAK, N.. Cryptococcosis in AIDS patients: case study from 1996 to 2006 in Paroissien Hospital. Rev. argent. microbiol. [online]. 2008, vol.40, n.4, pp.218-221. ISSN 0325-7541.

Clinic, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of 128 episodes of cryptococcosis were retrospectively evaluated in 106 positive HIV patients hospitalized at the Paroissien Hospital on period 1996- 2007. There were 75 male and 31 female patients, with a median age of 34 years, ranging from 20 to 68 years. Addiction to intravenous drugs was the main cause of HIV infection in 55 patients (51.9%). Cryptococcosis was detected as single episode in 85 patients (80.2%) and as relapse in 19 (17.9%). It appeared as the first marking disease in 36 patients (34.0%). Diagnosis was established in 116 episodes by CSF study (Indian ink, culture, antigen detection), in 9 cases by Cryptococcus sp. recovery from blood cultures, and in 3 cases by antigen detection in patient's serum with a latex reactive. Neurological symptomatology, with migraine and fever as the most common signs, was presented by 89.6 % of patients. Induction treatment was done in all cases with amphotericin B, and maintenance treatment was carried out with fluconazole. Mortality rate was 35.8%, being higher in those patients who had suffered relapses (41.3%) compared to those who presented a first episode of the mycosis (33.3%).

Keywords : Cryptococcosis; AIDS-associated cryptococcosis; Epidemiology.

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