PubMed · 535192
The source did not provide an abstract. Follow the original record for more information.
Explore connections, maps & timelines
S M Scharf, N T Feldman. 1979. Case reports: cryptococcosis.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/535192/
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.
KEEP EXPLORING
A 50-year-old diabetic woman with end-stage renal disease, who had been on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for 8 months, developed peritonitis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans. The patient was completely asymptomatic and infection was confirmed by detection of budding yeast cells in Gram-stained smears of turbid peritoneal fluid. The infection was cleared after intravenous fluconazole with delayed removal of the catheter. Fluconazole may be a suitable alternative drug in treating cryptococcal peritonitis.
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous soil fungus that rarely causes pneumonia in normal hosts but is a common cause of opportunistic infection. Pulmonary disease is initiated by inhalation of the organism, and a spectrum of radiographic manifestations can be seen. The most common finding is a poorly marginated nodule or mass. Lobar or segmental parenchymal opacities and, less commonly, a diffuse scattered nodular or reticulonodular pattern have also been observed. Associated adenopathy, pleural effusions, and cavitation are uncommon; when present, these are more common in immunocompromised patients. Establishing the diagnosis can be difficult, but pulmonary cryptococcosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients in the proper clinical setting and with compatible radiographic findings.
Cryptococcus neoformans continues to present diagnostic and treatment challenges in patients with underlying malignant neoplasms. Cryptococcal empyema is a relatively rare complication of cryptococcal disease. It is important to distinguish whether uncontrolled malignancy or cryptococcal infection is responsible for the effusion. We used traditional diagnostic approaches, bronchoscopy and transthoracic fine needle aspiration, to verify the presence of the organism but continued to have treatment failure until adequate drainage was established.