Vertebro-cerebral cryptococcosis mimicking tuberculosis: a diagnostic dilemma in countries with high burden of tuberculosis

We report a case of a 30-year-old immunocompetent man with disseminated cryptococcosis who was initially treated with antitubercular therapy due to clinical and radiological diagnosis of vertebro-cerebral tuberculosis. The diagnosis of Cryptococcus infection was made due to incidental isolation of this fungus from blood culture with negative cerebrospinal fluid culture results. Though disseminated cryptococcosis with central nervous system, skeletal, and skin involvement is an uncommon manifestation of Cryptococcus neoformans infection, a high clinical suspicion and early initiation of therapy is needed to recognise and treat such patients efficiently.     

Isavuconazole treatment for rare fungal diseases and for invasive aspergillosis in patients with renal impairment: Challenges and lessons of the VITAL trial

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) confers a substantial risk for morbidity and mortality to immunocompromised patients. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common IFD caused by moulds but the prevalence of other rare mould diseases, such as mucormycosis, hyalohyphomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis, may be increasing. Treatments are available for IA, but evidence to support efficacy and safety of antifungal agents for rare IFDs, or for IFDs in special patient populations, is limited or lacking. The VITAL trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole for the treatment of patients with IA and renal impairment, or with IFDs caused by rare moulds, yeasts or dimorphic fungi. These patients stand to benefit most from a new treatment option but are unlikely to be included in a randomised, controlled trial. In this article, we review the challenges faced in the design and conduct of the VITAL trial. We also review the findings of VITAL, which included evidence of the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole. Finally, we consider the importance of trials such as VITAL to inform therapeutic decision making for clinicians faced with the challenge of treating patients with rare IFDs and as one paradigm of how to determine efficacy and safety of new drugs for rare and resistant infections without a suitable comparator.     

22例误诊为周围型肺癌的肺隐球菌病患者临床分析

目的 探讨肺隐球菌病(pulmonary cryptococcosis, PC)临床特点及误诊原因,提高对该病的诊断水平.方法 回顾性分析大连医科大学附属第一医院呼吸内科2005年8月至2016年6月22例误诊为周围型肺癌的PC临床资料.22例PC患者中男12例(55%),女10例(45%);无症状12例(55%)、咳嗽或咳痰6例(27%)、胸闷和气短4例(18%)、胸痛3例(14%)、痰中带血2例(9%).影像学主要表现为肺部肿块/结节型16例(73%);肺实变型6例(27%);单侧分布21例(95%),肺下叶13例(59%).20例行外科手术,2例经皮穿刺肺活检.结果 22例经病理证实为PC.16例术后未行抗真菌治疗,其中3例随诊未见复发.术后4例予氟康唑(400 mg/d,口服)治疗3~6个月,随诊未见复发.未手术2例予氟康唑(400 mg/d,口服)治疗6~12个月,复查病灶明显缩小、吸收.结论 PC患者临床表现及影像学均无特异性,易误诊为周围型肺癌.肺部多发或单发肿块/结节型是主要影像学特点,怀疑PC时应首先行经皮穿刺肺活检以取得病理诊断.     

A case of pulmonary cryptococcosis with large pericardial effusion diagnosed using cervical lymph node biopsy

Pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is a relatively rare infectious disease. It mainly involves the lungs; however, in some patients, the infection could spread to other parts of the body. PC mostly occurs in patients with immune deficiencies. However, PC infections have been reported in non‐immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis of PC is challenging in patients without immune deficiencies. Here, the case of a 27‐year‐old immunocompetent woman who was diagnosed with PC was report. She had unexplained fever and a history of close contact with poultry feathers. Lesions were observed in the lungs, pleural cavity, pericardium, and cervical lymph nodes. Biopsy of the cervical lymph nodes helped in the pathological diagnosis of PC. She was treated with fluconazole, and the lesions disappeared. They present this case to encourage detailed inquiry of medical history in such patients, improve the diagnostic awareness of clinicians, and help reduce the likelihood of misdiagnosis.     

三种常见肺部真菌感染CT表现比较

目的 探究肺部三种真菌感染的CT表现并进行比较研究。方法 对2014年3月~2017年4月宜丰县人民医院确诊的肺部真菌感染患者90例的临床资料展开比较分析。其中20例念珠菌病,40例隐球菌病,以及30例侵入性肺曲霉病,对上述三种临床常见的肺部真菌感染的CT表现对比研究。结果 念珠菌病和侵入性肺曲霉病比较,单纯性隐球菌病患者发生率、支气管充气征以及聚集性结节发生率较高,组间对比,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;念珠菌病和隐球菌病者比较,侵入性肺曲霉病空洞发生率较高,组间对比,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 支气管充气征和结节密集型分布是肺隐球菌病的主要特点,空气半月征和空洞是侵入性肺曲霉病的主要特点,而磨玻璃影则为肺念珠菌病的主要特点。     

肺隐球菌病CT表现与临床病理特征分析

目的:分析肺隐球菌病(PC)肺部CT表现及临床、病理特征,提高对该病的认识。方法:回顾分析9例经病理或细菌学证实的PC肺部CT表现,其中肺部有基础疾病者2例。结果:CT表现为孤立病变4例,单叶多发病变2例,双侧病变3例,病变多位于肺外围。CT有3种影像表现:①结节或肿块;②单发或多发斑片影;③斑片影与结节或肿块影混合。9例中出现空洞6例,伴肺段实变1例,伴少量胸水2例,纵隔淋巴结肿大1例。结论:PC肺部CT表现形态多样,病灶多发,具有一定的特征性。病灶形态与病程及免疫力有关,确诊尚依赖病原学及病理检查。     

CUTANEOUS CRYPTOCOCCOSIS: RECURRENCE FOLLOWING ORAL FLUCONAZOLE TREATMENT

A case of recurrent cutaneous cryptococcosis in an immunocompromised patient is described. The patient presented with a non-healing cutaneous ulcer due to infection with Cryptococcus neoformans. Extensive investigation failed to reveal any evidence of associated systemic cryptococcosis. Treatment with oral fluconazole resulted in complete resolution of the ulcer but after several months a second cutaneous cryptococcal lesion appeared, strongly suggesting dissemination from an underlying systemic focus. This case illustrates the hazards associated with making a diagnosis of isolated cutaneous cryptococcosis and the necessity for prolonged follow-up of patients who present in this way.     

The Direct Cost and Incidence of Systemic Fungal Infections

Objectives: In this study we determined the incidence and direct inpatient and outpatient costs of systemic fungal infections (candidiasis, aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis) in 1998.
Methods: Using primarily the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) for incidence and the Maryland Hospital Discharge Data Set (MDHDDS) for costs, we surveyed four systemic fungal infections in patients who also had HIV/AIDS, neoplasia, transplant, and all other concomitant diagnoses. Using a case-control method, we compared the cases with controls (those without fungal infections with the same underlying comorbidity) to obtain the incremental hospitalization costs. We used the Student's t -test to determine significance of incremental hospital costs. We modeled outpatient costs on the basis of discharge status to calculate the total annual cost for systemic fungal infections in 1998.
Results: For 1998, the projected average incidence was 306 per million US population, with candidiasis accounting for 75% of cases. The estimated total direct cost was $2.6 billion and the average per-patient attributable cost was $31,200. The most commonly reported comorbid diagnoses with fungal infections (HIV/AIDS, neoplasms, transplants) accounted for only 45% of all infections.
Conclusion: The cost burden is high for systemic fungal infections. Additional attention should be given to the 55% with fungal disease and other comorbid diagnoses.     

Cryptococcus and Cryptococcosis in Cuba. A minireview

Cryptococcosis has emerged as an important public health problem in Africa, Asia and the Americas due to the increasing numbers of persons at risk of this infection and the adaptation of its aetiological agents to new environments. The proper management requires early recognition of Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex infection, familiarity with the use and limitations of diagnostic tests and knowledge of the available treatment options. This review will address these issues with the goal of providing sufficient information to suspect, diagnose and treat patients with cryptococcosis based on Cuban data and review of the literature.     

国内肺隐球菌病临床资料汇总分析

目的了解国内报道的肺隐球菌病的流行病学特征、临床及影像学特点、确诊方法、误诊情况、治疗及预后,为临床医师快速准确地诊断本病提供重要线索。方法检索1980～2007年中国医院数字图书馆CHKD期刊全文库收录的有关肺隐球菌病的文献,统计分析221例肺隐球菌病患者的临床资料。结果肺隐球菌病好发于青中年男性,其临床表现及影像学表现呈多样性和无特异性,易并发隐球菌性脑膜炎（24．0％）,临床上极易误诊;确诊主要依靠各种临床标本的涂片、培养和病理学检查;治疗手段主要包括手术切除和抗真菌药物的治疗。结论临床上提高对该病的认识是提高确诊率的关键。强调抗真菌药物的治疗作用,尤其是术前、术后应用,可减少隐球菌播散导致隐球菌性脑膜炎。