Johns Hopkins HIV Guide
Cryptococcal Meningitis
PATHOGENS
- Yeast-like round fungus, 5-10 µm with polysaccharide capsule
- Epidemiology: found worldwide in soil and therefore impossible to completely avoid; exposure to bird droppings increases risk of infection.
- Most common non-candidal fungal infection in HIV+ pts worldwide
- Major OI in sub-Saharan Africa, Thailand, India.
- In U.S. pre-HAART era, 5-8% of HIV+ pts developed cryptococcosis. Dramatically reduced incidence in HAART era.
- Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans (serotypes A and D).
- Cryptococcus gattii previously known as cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii (serotypes B and C, rare in HIV). Now classified as separate species.
- Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (has been used to designate serotype A).
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Last updated: September 3, 2023
Citation
Hoffmann, Christopher J, and Natasha Chida. "Cryptococcal Meningitis." Johns Hopkins HIV Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2023. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545045/all/Cryptococcal_Meningitis.
Hoffmann CJ, Chida N. Cryptococcal Meningitis. Johns Hopkins HIV Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545045/all/Cryptococcal_Meningitis. Accessed September 28, 2025.
Hoffmann, C. J., & Chida, N. (2023). Cryptococcal Meningitis. In Johns Hopkins HIV Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545045/all/Cryptococcal_Meningitis
Hoffmann CJ, Chida N. Cryptococcal Meningitis [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins HIV Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2023. [cited 2025 September 28]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545045/all/Cryptococcal_Meningitis.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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AU - Chida,Natasha,M.D.
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BT - Johns Hopkins HIV Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_HIV_Guide/545045/all/Cryptococcal_Meningitis
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
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