Fatal case of disseminated cryptococcal infection and meningoencephalitis in the setting of prolonged glucocorticoid use in a Covid-19 positive patient

Krupa Karnik; Yuexiu Wu; Samantha Ruddy; Bladimir Quijano-Rondan; Carl Urban; Glenn Turett; Lok Yung; Nishant Prasad; James Yoon; Sorana Segal-Maurer

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01380

Fatal case of disseminated cryptococcal infection and meningoencephalitis in the setting of prolonged glucocorticoid use in a Covid-19 positive patient

IDCases. 2022:27:e01380. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2022.e01380. Epub 2022 Jan 6.

Authors

Krupa Karnik¹, Yuexiu Wu¹, Samantha Ruddy¹, Bladimir Quijano-Rondan¹, Carl Urban^{2

1

3}, Glenn Turett^{2

1}, Lok Yung^{2

1}, Nishant Prasad^{2

1}, James Yoon^{2

1}, Sorana Segal-Maurer^{2

1

3}

Affiliations

¹ The Dr. James J. Rahal, Jr. Division of Infectious Diseases, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, 56-45 Main St, Flushing, New York 11355, United States.
² Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, 56-45 Main St, Flushing, New York 11355, United States.
³ Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York 10065, United States.

Abstract

Based on the RECOVERY trial, glucocorticoids have become the mainstay of treatment for COVID-19, thus increasing the risk of opportunistic infections. We report a case of disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans with documented meningoencephalitis in a patient with severe COVID-19 in the setting of prolonged glucocorticoid administration with poor outcome likely due to adrenal involvement.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cryptococcus neoformans; Fungemia; Glucocorticoids; Meningoencephalitis.

Publication types

Case Reports