Cryptococcal empyema: case report and review.

V E Mulanovich; W E Dismukes; N Markowitz

doi:10.1093/clinids/20.5.1396

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Cryptococcal empyema: case report and review.

V E Mulanovich·W E Dismukes·N Markowitz

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Abstract

A 28-year-old male infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) developed a pleural empyema caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. He responded well to chest-tube drainage and antifungal therapy; he received fluconazole as maintenance therapy for 1 year and has not relapsed. We reviewed the English-language literature on cryptococcal pleural effusions in patients with and without AIDS. Only three other cases of empyema, one of them in an HIV-infected patient, have been reported. A pleural-fluid cryptococcal antigen test was diagnostic in our case and should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of unexplained pleural empyema/effusion in immunocompromised patients.

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V E Mulanovich, W E Dismukes, N Markowitz. 1995. Cryptococcal empyema: case report and review.. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinids%2F20.5.1396

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