Cryptococcosis: Its Prevalence and Clinical Presentation among Hiv Positive and Negative Patients in Rims, Manipur

South-East Asia. This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence and clinical presentation of Cryptococcus infections among HIV positive and negative patients in RIMS, Manipur. Specimens like CSF, sputum, urine, blood, tissue biopsy or aspirates from clinically suspected cryptococcosis cases from RIMS hospital, were subjected to mycological examination. Out of the 48 patients enrolled for the study, Cryptococcus spp were isolated from 16 (33.33%) patients. Among these 16 cryptococcosis patients, majority of them presented with cryptococcal meningitis 13 (81.25%), while 1 (6.25%) patient each presented with cryptococcal lymphadenitis, disseminated cutaneous cryptococcosis and osseous cryptococcosis respectively. Also, of these 16 cryptococcosis patients, 14 (87.5%) were HIV positive. Among these HIV positive, sexual transmission with 64.29 % forms the commonest route of transmission, followed by intravenous drug injection with 35.71%. Out of these 14 HIV positive patients, 11 (78.57%) were on ART. This study shows high prevalence of cryptococcosis in our region with the most common presentation being cryptococcal meningitis. Also, there was high incidence of cryptococcosis among HIV-infected patients.