Multi-system infection caused by <i>Cryptococcus gattii</i> in a non-immunocompromised patient: a case report

Abstract

Cryptococcus is a dimorphic opportunistic pathogenic fungus. Cryptococcal infection mostly occurs in immunocompromised patients infected with HIV， organ transplantation， long-term use of cortisol hormone， chemotherapy， chronic leukemia and lymphoma， etc. Multi-system cryptococcal infection is rare in non-immunocompromised patients. In this article， one male adult case of Cryptococcus gattii meningitis complicated with Cryptococcus gattii pneumonia was reported. He had normal immune function and presented with meningitis as the initial manifestation and the respiratory system was involved. The patient underwent intrathecal injection + antifungal therapy via intravenous drip and ventriculoperitoneal shunt （VPS）. After corresponding interventions， he did not complain of fever， headache， cough， sputum and other discomforts. He received long-term oral intake of fluconazole + flucytosine after discharge， and was subject regular follow-up. The diagnosis and treatment of this case prompt that medical practitioners should consider the possibility that the population with normal immune function can also be infected with Cryptococcus in clinical practice. Both the nervous system and respiratory system can be infected. Besides conventional antifungal therapy via intravenous drip， intrathecal injection of antifungal drugs and VPS can also be considered in the treatment of Cryptococcal meningitis.

Keywords

• cryptococcus gattii|cryptococcal meningitis|cryptococcal pneumonia|immunity|infection