Pseudooutbreak of cryptococcal meningitis.

A pseudooutbreak of cryptococcal meningitis was caused by the use of contaminated albumin solution used in the preparation of Papanicolaou-stained slides of cerebrospinal fluid. Organisms were seen in cytocentrifuge preparations, but not in India ink preparations of cerebrospinal fluid specimens. Cryptococcal antigen tests were positive and Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from the albumin-treated cerebrospinal fluid specimens and from the albumin solution.