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Fungal culture

Posted by foonfoon65 @foonfoon65, Jan 17 6:44am

I recently have a mold infection is called cryptococcus diffluens, one doctor told me I need to have fluconazole antibiotics for six months or 12 months, another doctor is a Bronchiectasis specialist told me I do not need to treat that infection. Does anyone has experience like this? Please help I’m a little confused.

Lillie

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jan 17 10:33am

@foonfoon65 Hi Lillie - I went on a deep dive because this was a new yeast infection to me.
Here is what I learned - the fungus cryptococcous, like mycobacteria, is everywhere!
Those which are most commonly treated are C. neoformans, C. gattii (the most common). C. laurentii and
C. albidus are responsible for 80% of remaining Cryptococcus infections.
(https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/4/279)

C. diffluens is quite rare, and I am not surprised two doctors have different opinions on treatment because the literature is quite limited.

If I were in your position, I would want to consult an infectious disease specialist before treatment. I would request three things - a second sputum culture to be sure the diagnosis is accurate and it wasn't just an incidental finding due to fungus contamination of the specimen, a CT scan that shows evidence of fungal growth, and sensitivity testing if the specimen to be sure they prescribe the right drug the first time.

Do you think your pulmonologist would agree to that?

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1 reply
foonfoon65 | @foonfoon65 | Jan 17 12:05pm
In reply to @sueinmn "@foonfoon65 Hi Lillie - I went on a deep dive because this was a new yeast..." + (show)
@sueinmn

@foonfoon65 Hi Lillie - I went on a deep dive because this was a new yeast infection to me.
Here is what I learned - the fungus cryptococcous, like mycobacteria, is everywhere!
Those which are most commonly treated are C. neoformans, C. gattii (the most common). C. laurentii and
C. albidus are responsible for 80% of remaining Cryptococcus infections.
(https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/7/4/279)

C. diffluens is quite rare, and I am not surprised two doctors have different opinions on treatment because the literature is quite limited.

If I were in your position, I would want to consult an infectious disease specialist before treatment. I would request three things - a second sputum culture to be sure the diagnosis is accurate and it wasn't just an incidental finding due to fungus contamination of the specimen, a CT scan that shows evidence of fungal growth, and sensitivity testing if the specimen to be sure they prescribe the right drug the first time.

Do you think your pulmonologist would agree to that?

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Thanks Sue, your suggestion is great. I will talk to my doctors and get everything ready to go for more testings. It makes sense of what you were suggested.

Lillie

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