Cryptococcus laurentii: An unusual cause for atypical pneumonia in hematological malignancy

Abstract

Cryptococcus laurentii, one of the nonneoformans Cryptococcus is a known biopesticide to control fruit rot, previously considered to be nonpathogenic to humans, is now have been reported as a cause of opportunistic infections. Here, we present a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis due to C. laurentii in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and prolymphocytic leukemia. Sputum microscopy showed Gram-positive spherical capsulated budding yeast cells, culture of which revealed it as C. laurentii. The patient was promptly put on fluconazole, but he died on the subsequent day after initiation of therapy. A high index of suspicion and improvement of techniques of culture and identification is essential for early diagnosis and treatment of unusual fungal infections.