Treatment for C. neoformans Infection

How are C. neoformans infections treated?

People who have C. neoformans infection need to take prescription antifungal medication for at least 6 months, often longer. The type of treatment usually depends on the severity of the infection and the parts of the body that are affected.

• For people who have asymptomatic infections (e.g., diagnosed via targeted screening) or mild-to-moderate pulmonary infections, the treatment is usually fluconazole.
• For people who have severe lung infections or infections in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), the recommended initial treatment is amphotericin B in combination with flucytosine. After that, patients usually need to take fluconazole for an extended time to clear the infection.

The type, dose, and duration of antifungal treatment may differ for certain groups of people, such as pregnant women, children, and people in resource-limited settings. Some people may also need surgery to remove fungal growths (cryptococcomas).

Healthcare providers please click here to see the Infectious Diseases Society of America’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Cryptococcal Disease [PDF - 32 pages].

The World Health Organization has also developed guidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of cryptococcal disease in HIV-infected adults, adolescents, and children, with a focus on resource-limited settings.