Cryptococcal Meningitis

**Semantic type:** Disease or Syndrome

**Definition:** A blood borne fungal infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal column (meninges) caused by Cryptococcus, usually C. neoformans or C. gattii. It usually occurs in immunocompromised patients including persons with AIDS, transplant recipients, patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy, and patients with hematologic malignancies.