Cryptococcal antigen prevalence in HIV patients from a tertiary care centre in south India

Anitha Madhavan; Arun Sachu; Abel Samuel; Jayalakshmi Vasudevapanicker

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i5.10970

Anitha Madhavan Department of Microbiology, Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India
Arun Sachu Department of Microbiology, Believers Church Medical College, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Abel Samuel Department of Community Medicine, Believers Church Medical College, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India
Jayalakshmi Vasudevapanicker Department of Microbiology, Government TD Medical College, Alappuzha, Kerala, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i5.10970

Keywords: Cryptococcosis; Toxoplasmosis; Opportunistic infections; Tuberculosis; Candidiasis

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic mycosis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Crypto- coccal meningitis is one of themost fatal opportunistic infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence ofcryptococcal antigenemia in people living with HIV (PLHA) and also to find the prevalence of opportunistic infections among these patients.

Materials and Methods: A total of 204 non duplicate samples were collected from people with HIV aged above 18 years. Samples with CD4 count less than300 were included in the study. Cryptococcal antigen detection was done by CrAg Lateral flow assay.

Results: None of the patients in our study were positive for cryptococcal antigen. Opportunistic infections were observed in 82 (40.2%) HIV positive patients. Candidiasis, tuberculosis and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia were the most common opportunistic infections.

Conclusion: This is the first study from the southern state of Kerala on the prevalence of Cryptococcal antigenemia among HIV positive individuals. Thestudy showed that routine screening for cryptococcal antigen will not be cost effective in our population. Similar to other studies, eventhough candidiasis,tuberculosis and PCP were more commonly seen among people with CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3, there was no statistically significant association.