How to Prevent Cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis, an infection caused by the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans, is usually transmitted by inhaling the encapsulated spores in contaminated soil or pigeon feces. The infection usually begins in the lungs. Cryptococcosis can spread to other parts of the body and can become serious in patients with suppressed immune systems. Eighty-five percent of disseminated cryptococcosis cases occur in HIV-infected patients. The following steps will show how to prevent cryptococcosis.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Avoid areas inhabited by pigeons (Columba livia.) The excreta of pigeon are high in nitrogen and salts which provides an ideal environment for the growth of Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans. The pigeons themselves rarely display symptoms because their body temperature (107.6 degrees) is too high to allow growth of Cryptococcus.
2. Remove pigeon roosts near human inhabitation. Contaminated excreta can remain infectious for up to 2 years.
3. Avoid areas in southwestern Australia with the river red gum tree (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and the forest red gum tree (Eucalyptus tereticornis). Cryptococcus neoformans var gatti contaminates the air around the trees during the flowering seasons between November and February. However, the epidemiology of this form of the disease suggests that these trees are not the only source of exposure.
4. Provide life-long suppressive therapy with fluconazole in immunosuppressed patients. Cryptococcosis is frequently impossible to cure and relapses occur in 20 to 25 percent of these cases.
5. Alert AIDS patients to seek prompt medical attention if they have severe headaches or other neurological symptoms. This may allow cryptococcosis to be controlled before it can do permanent damage to the central nervous system.