Outpatient Cryptococcal Antigen Screening Is Associated With Favorable Baseline Characteristics and Improved Survival in Persons With Cryptococcal Meningitis in Uganda.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is unknown whether persons with symptomatic cryptococcal meningitis detected during routine blood cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) screening have better survival than persons presenting with overt meningitis.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled Ugandans with HIV and cryptocococcal meningitis from December 2018 to December 2021. Participants were treated with amphotericin-based combination therapy. We compared outcomes between persons who were CrAg screened then referred to hospital with those presenting directly to the hospital with symptomatic meningitis.

Results

Among 489 participants with cryptococcal meningitis, 40% (194/489) received blood CrAg screening and were referred to hospital (median time to referral 2 days; interquartile range [IQR], 1-6). CrAg-sc

SUBMITTER: Levin AE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10169421 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature