Cryptococcal infection in a post renal transplant patient presenting as a cutaneous nodule

Risk factors for acquiring cryptococcosis include HIV infection, solid organ transplantation (SOT) and other forms of innate and acquired immunosuppression (1). Infection is usually acquired by inhalation of dehydrated yeasts or basidiospores leading to the establishment of a primary pulmonary infection (2). Subsequent to initial infection or reactivation, there can be haematogenous dissemination preferentially to the central nervous system (CNS) and a variety of other organs like skin, soft tissue and bone, depending on the immune status of the host (3). Immunocompetent patients can be asymptomatic or have limited pulmonary disease, while immunocompromised patients tend to have disseminated disease with frequent CNS involvement and a fatal outcome.