Abstract:

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening infection with high mortality around the globe. Most studies are reporting prevalence and factors associated with Cryptococcal infections among HIV seropositive individuals with very limited information on generally patients’ population. This study is designed to determine prevalence and factors associated with Cryptococcal meningitis among in-patients outpatients at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) and Sekou Toure Regional Hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Methodology: It will be a cross sectional based study, which will be conducted between May and July 2019 involving in-patients and outpatients at Bugando Medical Centre (BMC) and Sekou Toure Regional Hospital, Mwanza, Tanzania. Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) sent to Microbiology laboratory after being collected through lumber puncture by skilled physicians/clinicians into EDTA and plain vacationers will be enrolled in this study. Socio-demographic and clinical data will then be extracted from patients using questionnaires. Macroscopic, microscopic, serological and culture procedures will be performed. STATA version 13.0 will be used for data analysis.

Results: Among 99 patients enrolled in this study, only 6 (6.06%) were Cryptococcus agglutination latex test positive, and 3 (3.03%) of them were India ink positive and grew in the SDA. Cryptococcus positive patients presented with CD4 count 21, 48, 121, 200 cells per microliters. All six patients with Cryptococcus positive were administered with Fluconazole prophylaxis 200mg unit CD4 count rise to >200 microliters.

Conclusion and Recommendation: In the present study all patient (HIV positive and negative population) were included, Cryptococcus seems to affect patients with HIV status positive accompanied with low CD4 count. They should recommend screening to HIV positive individuals with CD4 less than 100 per microliter and those who presented with symptoms of meningitis. Education should be provided to the patients in risk of getting Cryptococcus infection.