A clinical diagnosis of meningitis is confirmed with a latex agglutination test on CSF for the capsular polysaccharide of the organism. The most likely causative agent is
C. neoformans occurs widely in nature, particularly in soil contaminated with bird droppings. Human infection occurs when inhalation of the organism occurs. Lung infection is often asymptomatic but can result in pneumonia. Meningitis occurs through dissemination, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. India ink preparations of CSF reveal a budding yeast with a wide, unstained capsule in infected persons.
Candida albicans
Cryptococcus
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis
Histoplasma capsulatum
Mycology