Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis, the second leading cause of death in people living with advanced-stage HIV infection, was the focus of the current study aimed at assessing the features of patients with this condition at the CeDReS laboratory. Participants were individuals with confirmed diagnoses of cryptococcal meningitis conducted by the CeDReS laboratory of the University Hospital of Treichville, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The study spanned cases reported from January 2011 to December 2018, with data collection performed using the computerized laboratory information system. Among the 2,623 participants with suspected meningitis, 290 cases were identified as cryptococcal meningitis (11.2%). The frequency of cryptococcal meningitis increased from 5.8% in 2011 to 15.2% in 2017, coinciding with a rise in the number of people living with HIV referred to the laboratory. Notably, while the prevalence of cryptococcal meningitis was on the rise, the number of participants under anti-retroviral therapy remained consistent throughout the study period. The median CD4 T cell count was 56/mm³. Most cases of cryptococcal meningitis were diagnosed during the months of February (29 out of 202, 14.4%) and June (40 out of 243, 16.5%). In Ivory Coast, February is considered the warmest month, while June is one of the rainiest. These results serve as a crucial database on the seasonal occurrence of cryptococcal meningitis in Ivory Coast and provide a foundation for comparison studies between clinical and environmental isolates.

Key words: Cryptococcosis, positivity rate, dry season, wet season, HIV/AIDS.