Prevalence and Associated Factors to Cryptococcosis in the Infectious Diseases Department of the National University Hospital Center of Fann in Dakar (Senegal)

Objective: To describe the profile and evolution of patients admitted for cryptococcosis. Methodology: This study was cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive and analytical. It was carried out in the Infectious Diseases Department of the Fann National University Hospital in Dakar from January 1, 2008 to July 31, 2012, including patients admitted for cryptococcosis. Results: Fifty-seven patients, including 53 men (68%), were included (1.2% of overall admissions). The average age was 40.9 ± 9.1 years. HIV infection (52 cases) was the main associated factor and the average TCD4 + cell was 101.3 ± 123.58 / mm3. The average patient consultation time was 44 days. There were 22 case of meningeal stiffness, 7 cases of focal signs, and 23 cases in coma. Cryptococcosis was neuromeningeal in 47 cases (82%). There were 13 cases of positive Cryptococcal antigenemia (25%). The lethality was 61.4%. It was higher in patients aged 30 to 49 years or with a deep coma (p <0.0001). Conclusion: The lethality associated with cryptococcosis remains high in our series. Prevention, early HIV infection management, and wider accessibility to antifungal therapies would improve its management.