Abstract
The incidence of cryptococcal meningitis has increased in recent years, both in HIV-positive and -negative patients (Gottfredsonn, 2000). Among all fungi causing meningitis, Cryptococcus neoformans remains the most common, and the cryptococcal antigen is widely recognized as a valuable diagnostic tool in such cases (Lu et al., 2005; Cunha, 2001). The clinical signs and symptoms of C. neoformans meningitis are indistinguishable from those of many other causes of meningitis. Early diagnosis of cryptococcal infection is therefore necessary for appropriate management. Although cryptococcosis is generally thought to be associated with immunocompromised patients, such as those with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and various malignancies (Steenbergen & Casadevall, 2000), the incidence among immunocompetent patients has reportedly risen over recent years (Hoang et al., 2004; Shih et al., 2000). This retrospective study reports the incidence of cryptococcal meningitis in both HIV and non-HIV patients at a major tertiary healthcare centre in the metropolitan city of Pune, Western India, over the course of 10 years.