Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus gattii in Singapore

Lingegowda BP, Koh TH, Ong HS, Tan TT
Correspondence: Dr Pushpalatha Bangalore Lingegowda, pushpalatha.bangalore.lingegowda@sgh.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Cryptococcosis is an invasive fungal infection that occurs worldwide. Infections caused by Cryptococcus (C.) neoformans are commonly associated with immunocompromised patients, while those caused by C. gattii predominantly affect immunocompetent hosts. However, they have also been increasingly reported in immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV. Cutaneous involvement by C. gattii in immunocompetent patients is a rare manifestation, with only a few cases reported worldwide. C. gattii infection has rarely been reported in Singapore, with all three reported cases presenting as meningitis in immunocompetent individuals. Its natural habitat is the Eucalyptus tree, which is common in Singapore. We report the case of a 37-year-old migrant worker who had primary cutaneous infection due to C. gattii after sustaining traumatic inoculation.

Keywords: cryptococcosis, Cryptococcus gattii, immunocompetent patient, primary cutaneous infection
Singapore Med J 2011; 52(7): e160-e162