Cryptococcal meningitis – Page 6

Neurological Sequelae After Paediatric Cryptococcal Meningitis

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This research reviewed 868 children worldwide who had cryptococcal meningitis, a serious fungal brain infection. One in five surviving children experienced long-term neurological problems, most commonly vision loss, weakness, learning difficulties, or hearing loss. Importantly, no child in the medical literature received proper neurological testing after recovery, meaning the actual burden of problems is likely much higher. The study emphasizes the critical need for formal follow-up assessments and rehabilitation services for these children to help them achieve the best possible outcomes.

Co-Infection of Pulmonary Aspergillosis and Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Positive Patient: A Case Report

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This case describes a 46-year-old man with advanced HIV who developed two serious fungal infections simultaneously: a lung infection caused by Aspergillus fungus and meningitis caused by Cryptococcus fungus. Despite receiving appropriate antifungal medications, his condition worsened and he unfortunately died. The case highlights how people with very low immune cell counts are at high risk for multiple life-threatening fungal infections and emphasizes the importance of early HIV testing and screening for fungal infections.

Increasing postgraduate medical mycology research dissertations at Uganda’s higher institution of learning

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A study from Makerere University in Uganda found that funding has significantly boosted research on fungal diseases among graduate students. The number of students focusing on medical mycology jumped from 16% to 40% between 2023 and 2024, with more advanced laboratory techniques being used. The research focused on serious fungal infections like cryptococcal meningitis, which particularly affects people with HIV/AIDS. The university’s creation of a collaborative research group helped students work together and complete their projects on time.

Breaking down biofilms across critical priority fungal pathogens: proteomics and computational innovation for mechanistic insights and new target discovery

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Fungal infections like cryptococcal meningitis and invasive aspergillosis are becoming increasingly difficult to treat because fungi form protective structures called biofilms that resist our current medications. Researchers are using advanced techniques like mass spectrometry to identify the proteins that help fungi build these biofilms, combined with artificial intelligence tools to design new drugs that could break down these protective shields. This combined approach offers hope for developing better antifungal treatments that could save millions of lives.

Addressing Critical Fungal Pathogens Under a One Health Perspective: Key Insights from the Portuguese Association of Medical Mycology

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This comprehensive study by Portugal’s mycology experts examines four dangerous fungi that cause severe infections: Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida auris, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The research shows that Portugal’s hospitals have varying capabilities to diagnose and treat these infections, with some laboratories well-equipped and others lacking advanced diagnostic tools. The study found concerning increases in antifungal resistance and highlights that these fungi live in hospitals, water systems, soil, and even animals, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches connecting human, animal, and environmental health to better protect public health.

Recognizing the Importance of Public Health Mycology

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This editorial highlights how fungal infections are a growing but overlooked global health crisis, killing about 2.5 million people annually. The paper brings together seven research articles studying different fungal diseases, from lung infections to skin conditions, showing how these diseases spread differently in different populations and how resistance to antifungal medications is increasing. The authors emphasize that better testing, treatment access, and worldwide disease tracking are urgently needed, especially in poorer countries where the burden of fungal disease is highest.

Breaking the mould: challenging the status quo of clinical trial response definitions for invasive fungal diseases—a debate

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Doctors and researchers use standard definitions to determine if antifungal treatments work in clinical trials. This debate examines whether the standards created in 2008 are still appropriate today. Key concerns include whether stable disease should always count as treatment failure, how to handle deaths from other causes, and whether newer testing methods should be incorporated. The expert panel concluded these definitions need updating to reflect modern treatment options and patient needs.

Cryptococcal endophthalmitis in a patient with malignancy: A case report and literature review

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A 50-year-old woman with advanced lung cancer developed a rare fungal eye infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, resulting in blurred vision. Doctors diagnosed this through eye surgery and fluid analysis, then treated her with strong antifungal medications both injected into the eye and given systemically. After 10 months of treatment, her vision significantly improved, showing that early detection and aggressive antifungal therapy are critical for preventing blindness from this rare infection.

Environmental sources of Cryptococcus neoformans species complex in Kampala, Uganda: A preliminary study

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Researchers in Uganda identified where dangerous fungal organisms that cause meningitis live in the environment. They tested droppings from birds and chickens, and bark from eucalyptus trees. They found that a harmful fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans was present in marabou stork droppings and eucalyptus tree bark, but not in chicken droppings or another related fungus species called C. gattii. This helps explain why some people in Uganda get cryptococcal meningitis, a serious brain infection.

Disease: Cryptococcal meningitis