BHU conducts research on management of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV, AIDS patients

NEW DELHI: The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) scientists have carried out research on the management of cryptococcal meningitis among persons living with HIV, and AIDS.

The study was conducted by Jaya Chakravarty, Shyam Sundar, department of medicine; and Ragini Tilak, Munesh Kumar Gupta, department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, and their residents. The team suggested a way to bring down the mortality due to cryptococcal meningitis.

According to the BHU study, there is a high prevalence of cryptococcal antigen among immune-suppressed people living with HIV in Eastern India. Cryptococcal meningitis is a central nervous system infection caused by fungi and is a major cause of mortality among people with HIV/AIDS.

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As per the BHU study, by screening the blood of severely immuno-suppressed PWHA for cryptococcal antigen, even before there are symptoms, and initiating appropriate therapy the mortality can be brought down.

Jaya Chakravarty said, “The screening of PWHA should be adopted at the Antiretroviral Treatment Centers (ART Centre) of this region. At present, this test is available in the Microbiology Department of IMS, BHU, at a charge of Rs 500 per test. However, we would request the Uttar Pradesh State AIDS society to provide the test kit free of cost so that all PWHA can be screened at the ART centre.”

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“ This research could potentially change the way Cryptococcal infection is diagnosed and treated in the future. This research comes at an important time as we celebrate fungal awareness week to encourage healthcare workers to think about fungal infection” added Chakravarty.

The study was also presented by Jaya Chakravarty at the 12th International AIDS Society (IAS) conference on HIV science in Brisbane, Australia. The findings of the study have been published in the AIDS journal by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.