<unk>  is an infection acquired by inhalation of soil contaminated with the encapsulated yeast (fungus) Cryptococcus neoformans. The immune response to cryptococcal infection is highly dependent on host T-cell function, interferon-γ and TNF-α signaling is impaired in immunocompromised patients, resulting in disease. The overall incidence of<unk>  is estimated to be 0.4 to 1.3 cases per 100,000 persons yearly in the United States. C. neoformans can cause no infection, latent infection, or symptomatic disease. C. neoformans enters the body through the respiratory route, and infection can present as pneumonia-like illness with symptoms such as cough, fever, chest pain, and weight loss. If left untreated, C. neoformans can disseminate to the central nervous system, causing meningoencephalitis. Prognosis is poor without treatment, with a mortality rate reaching 10 to 30% within 3 weeks of presentation. The standard regimen of treatment in non-AIDS patients is intravenous amphotericin B combined with oral flucytosine. AIDS patients often have a reduced response to amphotericin B and flucytosine, therefore, after initial treatment as above, oral fluconazole can be used.
Cryptococcosis
Histoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis
Pasteurellosis
Chromoblastomycosis
Aspergilloma
Zygomycosis
Invasive aspergillosis