Nancy G. Mbae
Jomo Kenyatta University , Chogoria, Meru – Kenya.
Biography
Ms Nancy Mbae is a PhD student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Moi University. I graduated from Moi University with master of public health- epidemiology and disease control specialization, Bachelor of science in medical microbiology and post graduate Diploma in psychological counseling from the Kenya Institute of psychological counseling.
I have diverse research experience while working at The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya Institute of Public Policy and Research Analysis, Futures Group International and Kenya Methodist University. Presently, am working at Tharaka Nithi County Government in Kenya as senior assistant director public health.
Abstract
Cryptococcus meningitis is a serious fungal infection in Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV AIDS) patients. India ink test is the most used method for laboratory rapid detection of Cryptococcus neoformans in CSF specimens. Use of CrAg for laboratory detection of cryptococcus neoformans from cerebrospinal fluid will help reduce mortality. It is important therefore to compare the sensitivity of India ink test and Cryptoccocus Antigen (CrAg) against fungal culture for diagnosis of fungal meningitis in HIV AIDS patients. The main aim of this presentation is to compare level of patients missed during laboratory diagnosis of Cryptococcus meningitis by use of India Ink and CrAg.
It was found out that cryptococcus meningitis in this study accounted for prevalence of 18% of defining illnesses in HIV/AIDS patients at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (M.T.R.H). Risk ratio of CrAg compared to India ink in this study gave an estimate of 2.12 which is statistically significant at 95% confidence interval of confidence limits of 1.65 and 2.74. The level of patients missed for cryptococcus meningitis using India ink was found to be 55.5% compared to 5.6% patients missed by CrAg. Based on the study, it was suspected that more missed cases were to be reported at M.T.R.H if continued use of India ink for diagnosis of cryptococcus meningitis, therefore, CrAg test recommended to India ink test (that was used routinely for diagnosis of cryptococcus meningitis).