Cryptococcal meningitis with an antecedent cutaneous Cryptococcal lesion.

Abstract

Cutaneous cryptococcosis, caused by an encapsulated yeast, Cryptococcus neoformans, is generally associated with concomitant systemic infection. Here we report a case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis with spread to central nervous system in an HIV seronegative young boy. In the present case, a 17-year-old boy who was suffering from a non-healing ulcer on his right great toe for 5 months, presented with the signs and symptoms of meningitis. Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii was isolated from the CSF of the patient. Amphotericin B administration produced recovery from the meningitis as well as from the ulcer. This case study suggests that primary cutaneous cryptococcosis can be diagnosed provisionally by a simple Gram stained smear and India ink examination in order to avoid occurrence of disseminated cryptococcosis, including meningial involvement, which may have a fatal outcome.

• Authors: Ragini Tilak, Pradyot Prakash, Chaitanya Nigam, Vijai Tilak, I S Gambhir, A K Gulati
• Journal: Dermatology online journal (Dermatol Online J) Vol. 15 Issue 9 Pg. 12 (Sep 15 2009) ISSN: 1087-2108 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19930999 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Coloring Agents
• Gram's stain
• Phenazines
• chinese ink
• Carbon
• Amphotericin B
• Fluconazole
• Gentian Violet

Topics

• Adolescent
• Amphotericin B (therapeutic use)
• Antifungal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Carbon
• Coloring Agents
• Cryptococcosis (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy, microbiology)
• Cryptococcus gattii (isolation & purification)
• Dermatomycoses (complications, drug therapy, microbiology)
• Fluconazole (therapeutic use)
• Foot Ulcer (complications, drug therapy, microbiology)
• Fungemia (etiology)
• Gentian Violet
• HIV Seronegativity
• Humans
• Male
• Meningitis, Cryptococcal (drug therapy, etiology)
• Phenazines
• Staining and Labeling
• Toes (microbiology)