Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case
Cryptococcal meningitis is a central nervous system infection cause by Cryptococcus neoformans. Although Cryptococcus is found in bird droppings, it has never been reported for those ranchers involved in the niche swiftlet ranching industry despite having close proximity with the bird droppings. We...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia
2019
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/1/2019010811450212_MJMHS_Jan_2019.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848855797715435520 |
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| author | Tan, Sin Nee Lim, Christopher Thiam Seong |
| author_facet | Tan, Sin Nee Lim, Christopher Thiam Seong |
| author_sort | Tan, Sin Nee |
| building | UPM Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Cryptococcal meningitis is a central nervous system infection cause by Cryptococcus neoformans. Although Cryptococcus is found in bird droppings, it has never been reported for those ranchers involved in the niche swiftlet ranching industry despite having close proximity with the bird droppings. We present here a case of a 41-year-old healthy swiftlet rancher who presents with a history of prolonged fever, headache and altered behaviour of a month duration. Cerebral spinal fluid analysis revealed the presence of Cryptococcus. He was treated with intravenous am-photericin B and flucytosine and discharged well with fluconazole consolidation therapy for 8 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for 1 year. We believe this is the first reported case of Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) occurring in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher. This case should highlight the needs to wear a proper personal protective equipment inside a swiftlet ranch due to the constant exposure to the potential cryptococcal-rich environment. A high index of suspicion, careful history taking and physical examination focusing on neurologic assessment is key to early diagnosis and timely management of CM. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T11:31:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm-67252 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T11:31:28Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | upm-672522019-03-08T06:28:18Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/ Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case Tan, Sin Nee Lim, Christopher Thiam Seong Cryptococcal meningitis is a central nervous system infection cause by Cryptococcus neoformans. Although Cryptococcus is found in bird droppings, it has never been reported for those ranchers involved in the niche swiftlet ranching industry despite having close proximity with the bird droppings. We present here a case of a 41-year-old healthy swiftlet rancher who presents with a history of prolonged fever, headache and altered behaviour of a month duration. Cerebral spinal fluid analysis revealed the presence of Cryptococcus. He was treated with intravenous am-photericin B and flucytosine and discharged well with fluconazole consolidation therapy for 8 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for 1 year. We believe this is the first reported case of Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) occurring in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher. This case should highlight the needs to wear a proper personal protective equipment inside a swiftlet ranch due to the constant exposure to the potential cryptococcal-rich environment. A high index of suspicion, careful history taking and physical examination focusing on neurologic assessment is key to early diagnosis and timely management of CM. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia 2019 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/1/2019010811450212_MJMHS_Jan_2019.pdf Tan, Sin Nee and Lim, Christopher Thiam Seong (2019) Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case. Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 15 (1). pp. 82-84. ISSN 1675-8544; ESSN: 2636-9346 http://www.medic.upm.edu.my/upload/dokumen/2019010811450212_MJMHS_Jan_2019.pdf |
| spellingShingle | Tan, Sin Nee Lim, Christopher Thiam Seong Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| title | Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| title_full | Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| title_fullStr | Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| title_short | Cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| title_sort | cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher – first reported case |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/67252/1/2019010811450212_MJMHS_Jan_2019.pdf |