Disseminated Cryptococcosis in an HIV-Negative Patient With Liver Cirrhosis and Asplenia: A Rare but Dreadful Disease

Cryptococcosis (cryptococcal infection) is a severe life-threatening fungal infection. It is seen worldwide, specifically in immunocompromised, mainly in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)-infected individuals. Cryptococcal infection can present with meningiti...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2023-04, Vol.15 (4), p.e37243
Main Authors: Chippa, Venu Madhav, Chenna, Swetha, Gujarathi, Rahul, Candula, Narsimha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AIDS
Case reports
Emergency medical care
Gastroenterology
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Infectious Disease
Internal Medicine
Liver cirrhosis
Mortality
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Summary:Cryptococcosis (cryptococcal infection) is a severe life-threatening fungal infection. It is seen worldwide, specifically in immunocompromised, mainly in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)-infected individuals. Cryptococcal infection can present with meningitis, pneumonia, peritonitis, disseminated cryptococcosis, and cryptococcal fungemia. Here, we report the case of an HIV-negative Caucasian male in his early 50s with liver cirrhosis and asplenia who presented to our hospital with bilateral foot cellulitis and pneumonia. He was eventually diagnosed with disseminated cryptococcosis. Even with appropriate treatment, he developed multiorgan failure and finally expired. The disseminated cryptococcal infection has a very high mortality rate in patients with liver cirrhosis and asplenia. Liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor, and asplenia is a comorbid condition for cryptococcal infection in HIV-negative patients. Healthcare providers should have a high suspicion of cryptococcosis in these patients. Early testing with cryptococcal antigen assay and initiation of an appropriate antimicrobial regimen can help minimize bad outcomes.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.37243