Cryptococcosis laboratory tests: Difference between revisions

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==Laboratory Findings==
==Laboratory Findings==
Cryptococcal disease can be diagnosed through culture, CSF microscopy, or by cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) detection. In patients with HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis, 55% of blood cultures and 95% of CSF cultures are positive and visible colonies can be detected within 7 days. The opening pressure in the CSF may be elevated, with pressures ≥25 cm H2O occurring in 60% to 80% of patients. <ref name=aids>Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf Accessed on December 31, 2015.</ref>
Cryptococcal disease can be diagnosed through culture, CSF microscopy, or by cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) detection. In patients with HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis, 55% of blood cultures and 95% of CSF cultures are positive and visible colonies can be detected within 7 days. The opening pressure in the CSF may be elevated, with pressures ≥25 cm H2O occurring in 60% to 80% of patients. <ref name=aids>Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf Accessed on December 31, 2015.</ref>
====Culture====
*The gold standard for diagnosing cryptococcal infection; culture is traditionally identify Cryptococcus from human body samples. <ref name=cdc>Information for Healthcare Professionals about C. neoformans Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-neoformans/health-professionals.html Accessed on December 31, 2015</ref>
*Blood cultures may be positive in heavy infections.
====Microscopy====
*India Ink can be performed on CSF to quickly visualize Cryptococcus cells under a microscope; however, it can have limited sensitivity. <ref name=cdc>Information for Healthcare Professionals about C. neoformans Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-neoformans/health-professionals.html Accessed on December 31, 2015</ref>
*Many laboratories in the United States no longer perform this test. <ref name=aids>Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf. Accessed on December 31, 2015.</ref>
*Histopathology for detection of narrow-based budding yeasts in tissue can also be used.<ref name=cdc>Information for Healthcare Professionals about C. neoformans Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-neoformans/health-professionals.html Accessed on December 31, 2015</ref>
====Antigen detection====
* Antigen detection can be used on CSF or serum for detection of early, asymptomatic cryptococcal infection in HIV-infected patients.
* It has a higher sensitivity than microscopy or culture.<ref name=cdc>Information for Healthcare Professionals about C. neoformans Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-neoformans/health-professionals.html Accessed on December 31, 2015</ref>
* CSF CrAg is usually positive in patients with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Serum CrAg is usually positive in both meningeal and non-meningeal infection and may be present weeks to months before symptom onset.<ref name=aids>Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf. Accessed on December 31, 2015.</ref>
* A positive serum CrAg should prompt a lumbar puncture to rule out meningeal disease.<ref name=aids>Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf. Accessed on December 31, 2015.</ref>
*Techniques used include:<ref name=cdc>Information for Healthcare Professionals about C. neoformans Infection. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/cryptococcosis-neoformans/health-professionals.html Accessed on December 31, 2015</ref>
:*Latex agglutination (LA)
:*Enzyme immunoassay (EIA)
:*Lateral flow assay (LFA)


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 15:27, 6 June 2017

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Serge Korjian M.D.; Yazan Daaboul, M.D.

Overview

There are no specific laboratory findings associated with Crytococcal infection, but it can be diagnosed through culture, CSF microscopy, or by cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) detection.

Laboratory Findings

Cryptococcal disease can be diagnosed through culture, CSF microscopy, or by cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) detection. In patients with HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis, 55% of blood cultures and 95% of CSF cultures are positive and visible colonies can be detected within 7 days. The opening pressure in the CSF may be elevated, with pressures ≥25 cm H2O occurring in 60% to 80% of patients. [1]

References

  1. Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in HIV-infected adults and adolescents: recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the HIV Medicine Association of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Available at http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adult_oi.pdf Accessed on December 31, 2015.