Short Communication: Low seroprevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in patients with advanced HIV infection enrolling in an antiretroviral programme in Ghana.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in a clinic population with advanced HIV infection, with a view to giving antifungal therapy to those testing positive.

METHODS

Serum samples from adults with CD4 count <100 cells/mm(3) presenting to a large HIV clinic in Kumasi, Ghana, were tested retrospectively for cryptococcal antigenaemia using a latex agglutination assay, and clinical and demographic data extracted from case notes.

RESULTS

Of 92 samples tested, two were positive thus giving a prevalence of 2% (95% CI, 0-5.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of cryptococcal antigenaemia in patients with advanced HIV infection enrolling in an antiretroviral programme appears to be low in Kumasi, suggesting that the value of routine testing of outpatients diagnosed with advanced HIV infection may be limited in this population.