Bibliographic Info
GuidelineGuidelines for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of cryptococcal disease in HIV-infected adults, adolescents and children, March 2018: supplement to the 2016 consolidated guidelines of the use of antiretroviral drugs for treating and preventing HIV infection
Year of Publication2018
Issuing InstitutionWorld Health Organization
Recommendation
Status
Updated
Certainty of evidence
Moderate
All people living with HIV with a positive cryptococcal antigen result on screening should be carefully evaluated for signs and symptoms of meningitis and undergo a lumbar puncture if feasible with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination aand cryptococcal antigen assay (or India ink if cryptococcal antigen assay is not available) to exclude active cryptococcal disease
Notes and Remarks
Screening for cryptococcal antigen is the optimal approach for guiding resources in a public health approach and is the preferred approach for identifying risk of progression to disease when managing people presenting with advanced HIV disease.