Can smoking marijuana cause meningitis?

Cryptococcus neoformans (wikipedia.org) 2.5 out of 5 stars Cryptococcal meningitis in a daily cannabis smoker without evidence of immunodeficiency. Shapiro BB et al. BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jan 26 [Epub ahead of print] Abstract Can smoking marijuana cause meningitis? The question is not unreasonable. A wide range of pathogenic fungi — including Aspergillus and various Cryptococcus species — have been isolated from dispensary-grade medical marijuana samples. Concern that these pathogens could cause pneumonia or central nervous system infections has focussed on those with immunodeficiency, such as HIV and organ transplant patients. This case report describes at 48-year-old California woman who presented to hospital with a “2-month history of progressive fatigue, dizziness, memory impairment, ataxia, and left-sided numbness and weakness.” She had a state medical marijuana card and reported smoking multiple “blunts” daily for the previous 35 years. Tests were negative for HIV. Several days after admission, the patient developed lethargy and increasingly altered mental status. A lumbar puncture was performed, revealing increased white cell and protein with markedly low glucose (< 5 mg/dL.) CSF culture grew Cryptococcus neoformans. The authors obtained nine samples of different strains of medical marijuana at the Bakersfield dispensary the patient frequented. All samples were contaminated by opportunistic fungi, including multiple Cryptococcal specie...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical cannabis cryptococcus fungal infection marijuana meningitis Source Type: news