Risk factors for Cryptococcus gattii infection, British Columbia, Canada

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Feb;17(2):193-9. doi: 10.3201/eid1702.101020.

Abstract

To determine whether particular environmental, medical, or behavioral risk factors existed among Cryptcoccus gattii-infected persons compared with the general population, we conducted a sex-matched case-control study on a subset of case-patients in British Columbia (1999-2001). Exposures and underlying medical conditions among all case-patients (1999-2007) were also compared with results of provincial population-based surveys and studies. In case-control analyses, oral steroids (matched odds ratio [MOR] 8.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-37.80), pneumonia (MOR 2.71, 95% CI 1.05-6.98), and other lung conditions (MOR 3.21, 95% CI 1.08-9.52) were associated with infection. In population comparisons, case-patients were more likely to be ≥50 years of age (p<0.001), current smokers (p<0.001), infected with HIV (p<0.001), or have a history of invasive cancer (p<0.001). Although C. gattii is commonly believed to infect persons with apparently healthy immune systems, several immunosuppressive and pulmonary conditions seem to be risk factors.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • British Columbia / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cryptococcosis / complications
  • Cryptococcosis / diagnosis
  • Cryptococcosis / epidemiology*
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology
  • Cryptococcus gattii / isolation & purification*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Surveys and Questionnaires