Mycology Practice Exam

In HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis, the goal of induction therapy is rapid, potent fungal clearance from the CSF to reduce mortality. The best approach is a combination that pairs a potent fungicidal agent with a complementary antifungal: liposomal amphotericin B plus flucytosine, typically given for about two weeks. Liposomal amphotericin B disrupts the fungal cell membrane, while flucytosine enters the fungal cells and inhibits DNA and RNA synthesis; together they work synergistically to speed clearance of Cryptococcus from the CSF, which improves survival compared with either drug alone. After this induction phase, patients usually transition to consolidation with fluconazole and then maintenance therapy. Why the other options aren’t correct for induction: using an antifungal alone (monotherapy) is less effective in wiping out the infection quickly; fluconazole alone is slower and less fungicidal, so it’s not the recommended induction regimen; echinocandins have poor activity against Cryptococcus and don’t achieve effective CSF levels, so they aren’t first-line for induction.