The prevalence and clinical course of HIV-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis in Uganda.

Background: The prevalence and clinical course of pulmonary cryptococcosis in Sub-Saharan Africa are not well described.

Methods: Consecutive HIV-infected adults hospitalized at Mulago Hospital (Kampala, Uganda) between September 2007 and July 2008 with cough >or=2 weeks were enrolled. Patients with negative sputum smears for acid-fast bacilli were referred for bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).