Question

Cryptococcus gattii fungal infections are occurring more frequently in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised people. You are a physician treating a human with C. gattii pneumonia (lung infection).

1. What was the source of this infectious fungus (be specific as possible)?
2. What is 1 specific characteristic that helps Cryptococcus to survive in the infected human?

Answer 1

Cryptococcus is an endemic fungus causing pulmonary or central nervous system disease, typically in immunocompetent hosts. Cryptococcal species mainly enter the body by inhalation and in most cases are eliminated by host defense mechanisms. Some cases, however, progress to pneumonia and subsequent dissemination of the infection to the central nervous system leading to meningoencephalitis.

In humans average incubation period for cryptococcus gatti infection is 6 weeks to 13 months. Therefore, case- patients are usually asked to recall potential exposures during the 13 months before symptom onset.

Treating cryptococcus consist of three phases

1) Induction

2) Consolidation

3) Maintenance therapy

Cryptococcus is type of fungus that is found in the soil worldwide, usually in association with bird droppings. The major species of cryptococcus that causes illness in human is cryptococcus neoforms.

An infected person or animal sheds crypto parasites in the stool. You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite. Crypto sporidium may be found in soil, food, water or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals. Crypto is not spread by contact with blood.