Stronger antifungal treatment for early cryptococcal infection in people with HIV
Enhanced Antifungal Therapy to Improve Survival in Early Disseminated Cryptococcal Infection
Trying a stronger antifungal treatment for adults with HIV who have a positive blood cryptococcal antigen to prevent progression to meningitis and death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11454768 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have HIV and a low CD4 count, the team screens your blood for cryptococcal antigen to find early, hidden infection. People who are antigen-positive may receive a stronger antifungal regimen (beyond fluconazole, potentially including drugs like amphotericin B or flucytosine) aimed at clearing infection before meningitis starts. The researchers will follow participants over time to see whether the enhanced treatment reduces deaths and stops progression to symptomatic disease. Care is delivered through clinics and hospitals that run CrAg screening programs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with HIV—especially those with CD4 counts under 200 cells/µL—who have a positive blood cryptococcal antigen test are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without HIV or without a positive cryptococcal antigen test, and those already receiving standard care for advanced symptomatic meningitis, are unlikely to benefit from this preventive treatment approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce deaths by treating early, hidden cryptococcal infection more effectively than fluconazole alone.
How similar studies have performed: Prior randomized trials showed that CrAg screening plus preemptive fluconazole improved survival, but many CrAg-positive people still die, so using enhanced antifungal regimens for asymptomatic CrAg-positive patients is a newer strategy that remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rajasingham, Radha — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Rajasingham, Radha
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.