The recognition of Cryptococcus neoformans in Gram-stained smears of purulent
exudates may be hampered by the presence of the large gelatinous capsule
which apparently prevents definitive staining of the yeast-like cells. In such
stained preparations, C. neoformans may appear either as round cells with grampositive
granular inclusions impressed upon a pale lavender cytoplasmic background
or as gram-negative lipoid bodies.