Diagnosis of neurological infections in AIDS patients: Possibilities for Zimbabwe

Abstract

Routine cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination and culture was performed on CSF obtained from 23 HIV infected adults presenting with neurological symptoms at Parirenyatwa Hospital. Bacterial growth was obtained in CSF from two patients. Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) was the predominant cause of adult meningitis with 10 patients being diagnosed with CM based on the detection of C. neoformans (positive culture or India ink stain) or a positive CSF cryptococcal antigen test. In three of the 10 patients (33%) C. neoformans had been missed on India ink staining and culture. The cryptococcal antigen latex test offers a rapid and reliable test and its use must be advocated in the routine laboratory