Prevalence of cryptococcosis among HIV-infected patients in Yaounde, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans is encapsulated yeast which causes life-threatening infections in up to 40% of AIDS patients in Africa. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of cryptococcosis among HIV infected patients in Yaounde. Methods: In a hospital-based surveillance study of cryptococcosis, the colonization of Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), urine and blood sample by C. neoformans was evaluated by direct microscopic examination and culture techniques. Data obtained were then analyzed based on the medical records of the patients. Results: Among the105 patients sampled for the study, the CD4 counts varied between 31 and 304 lymphocytes/mm

Cryptoccocal meningitis in Yaoundé (Cameroon) HIV infected patients: Diagnosis, frequency and Cryptococcus neoformans isolates susceptibility study to fluconazole

“…The high frequency of infected persons in this study (28.08%) is in agreement with the fact that the prevalence in HIV infected patients is elevated, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa region [25,35]. The frequency we obtained is higher than what observed by Dzoyem et al [13] in the same area (9.86%). This could be due to the fact that we concentrated the study on HIV positive patients with clinical signs of meningitis where as they worked in a general survey of cryptococosis among HIV infected persons.…”

Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in douala, cameroon: A cross sectional study

“…[1112] More so, the burden of CM as a cause of mortality among HIV-infected patients has not been fully elucidated. We therefore, opted to carry out a clinical case note analysis of HIV-infected patients admitted to the Douala General Hospital so as to determine the prevalence of CM, its clinical features as well as the in-hospital outcome.…”

HIV status: the prima facie right not to know the result

“…About 80 to 90% of patients with Cryptococcal infection are HIV positive 1. When a patient regains consciousness from Cryptococcus meningitis, the clinician may offer an HIV test (in case it has not already been done) (scenario 1) or offer to tell the patient his HIV status (in case the test has already been performed with a positive result while the patient was unconscious) (scenario 2).…”