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Cryptococcal meningitis in a daily cannabis smoker without evidence of immunodeficiency

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening condition most commonly observed in immunocompromised individuals. We describe a daily cannabis smoker without evidence of immunodeficiency presenting with confirmed Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis. An investigation of cannabis samples from the patient’s preferred dispensary demonstrated contamination with several varieties of Cryptococcus, including C. neoformans, and other opportunistic fungi. These findings raise concern regarding the safety of dispensary-grade cannabis, even in immunocompetent users.

Source: BMJ Case Reports

DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-221435

Authors: Bryan B Shapiro, Rebecca Hedrick, Brigitte C Vanle, Courtney A Becker, Chris Nguyen, David M Underhill, Margie A Morgan, Joel D Kopple, Itai Danovitch, Waguih William IsHak

Institutions: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, UC Irvine Health, F. Widjaja Inflammatory Bowel Disease Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, The Lundquist Institute, Harbor–UCLA Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Fungal Infections and Studies

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2787186456

FWCI: 2.383

Cites: 19

Cited by: 27

Related to: 10