P325 Trend of cryptococcal meningitis in patients attending a teaching hospital in north-east india — a single center study

POSTER SESSION 3, SEPTEMBER 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: OBJECTIVE: To determine the changing trend of Cryptococcal meningitis in patients attending Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital, Imphal. METHODS: A total of 142 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from patients with suspected meningitis from January 2013 to January 2022 were analyzed in the department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. The samples were subjected to India ink preparation (IIP), Gram stain, Cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing, fungal culture in Sabouraud Dextrose agar (SDA) medium, and Bird Seed Agar. RESULTS: Out of 142 CSF samples received, direct examination by IIP revealed Cryptococcus in 28 cases (19.7%) whereas, capsular polysaccharide antigen testing using lateral flow immunochromatography kit (CRYPTO-PS) detected a total of 40 cases (28.2%). Culture showed growth of fungus in 22 samples and all were from CrAg positive samples. Maximum number of cases were detected in the year 2019 followed by 2018. Immunosuppression (AIDS) was an important underlying factor. Recurrence was seen in three patients and two cases who were on Cycloserine succumbed while undergoing treatment. CONCLUSION: Cryptococcosis continues to be a serious fungal infection among AIDS patients in spite of HAART. High index of clinical suspicion and microbiological examination is necessary to improve clinical outcomes. Whenever immunosuppressive drugs are administered in HIV patients treated earlier for cryptococcosis, monitoring the patient for likely recurrence is to be borne in mind to improve the overall clinical outcome. CrAg testing is an additional armamentarium for the diagnosis of cryptococcosis in the absence of culture positivity.