Capsule-deficient cryptococcal meningitis: A diagnostic conundrum

Trupti Shende, Gagandeep Singh, Immaculata Xess, Swati Khullar, Renu Kumari Yadav, Reshu Agarwal, M Vasantha Padma SrivastavaJournal of Global Infectious Diseases 2022 14(4):165-169 Cryptococcosis is a serious systemic mycosis. Its incidence has escalated in the past four decades. Cryptococcus neoformans causes localized or disseminated infection in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. The capsulated form is commonly encountered which can be diagnosed on an India ink preparation or antigen detection. However, the noncapsulated forms are very rare and require a high index of suspicion for correct diagnosis. Herein, we present a case of cryptococcal meningitis due to a noncapsulated strain in an apparently immunocompetent patient with no proven immunodeficiencies along with review of world literature. Such cases are a diagnostic challenge for the clinician as well as microbiologist.
Source: Journal of Global Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research