Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword

Cryptococcal meningitis is an opportunistic infection associated with altered immunity. Immunomodulatory agent use in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may predispose such infections. Here, we present a 75-year-old male patient who presented with fever and altered general status after seve...

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Main Authors: Hilal W Abdessamad, Michel Achkar, Amal Al Zoghbi, Mohamad Fleifel, Abdul Rahman Ousta, Ahmad Kassar, Nadia L Samaha, Rita Nemr, Anna Farra, Jacques E Mokhbat, Rola Husni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2023-05-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17170
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author Hilal W Abdessamad
Michel Achkar
Amal Al Zoghbi
Mohamad Fleifel
Abdul Rahman Ousta
Ahmad Kassar
Nadia L Samaha
Rita Nemr
Anna Farra
Jacques E Mokhbat
Rola Husni
author_facet Hilal W Abdessamad
Michel Achkar
Amal Al Zoghbi
Mohamad Fleifel
Abdul Rahman Ousta
Ahmad Kassar
Nadia L Samaha
Rita Nemr
Anna Farra
Jacques E Mokhbat
Rola Husni
author_sort Hilal W Abdessamad
collection DOAJ
description Cryptococcal meningitis is an opportunistic infection associated with altered immunity. Immunomodulatory agent use in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may predispose such infections. Here, we present a 75-year-old male patient who presented with fever and altered general status after severe COVID-19 infection and developed cryptococcal meningitis. Opportunistic infection may arise from the use of immunomodulation in severe COVID-19, especially in the elderly population. This article describes the case and extensively reviews cryptococcal disease post-COVID-19 literature, highlighting the risk from immunosuppressive treatment.
format Article
id doaj-art-d933db58a2b747bf997cad50084ece18
institution OA Journals
issn 1972-2680
language English
publishDate 2023-05-01
publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
record_format Article
series Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
spelling doaj-art-d933db58a2b747bf997cad50084ece182025-08-20T02:14:07ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802023-05-01170510.3855/jidc.17170Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged swordHilal W Abdessamad0Michel Achkar1Amal Al Zoghbi2Mohamad Fleifel3Abdul Rahman Ousta4Ahmad Kassar5Nadia L Samaha6Rita Nemr7Anna Farra8Jacques E Mokhbat9Rola Husni10Infectious Diseases, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonInternal Medicine, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonEndocrinology, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonInternal Medicine, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonLebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonLebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonGeorgetown University School of Medicine, Washington DC, United StatesEndocrinology, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonInfectious Diseases, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonInfectious Diseases, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, LebanonInfectious Diseases, Lebanese American University School of Medicine and Lebanese American University Medical Center–Rizk Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon Cryptococcal meningitis is an opportunistic infection associated with altered immunity. Immunomodulatory agent use in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may predispose such infections. Here, we present a 75-year-old male patient who presented with fever and altered general status after severe COVID-19 infection and developed cryptococcal meningitis. Opportunistic infection may arise from the use of immunomodulation in severe COVID-19, especially in the elderly population. This article describes the case and extensively reviews cryptococcal disease post-COVID-19 literature, highlighting the risk from immunosuppressive treatment. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17170cryptococcusmeningitisimmunomodulationCOVID-19
spellingShingle Hilal W Abdessamad
Michel Achkar
Amal Al Zoghbi
Mohamad Fleifel
Abdul Rahman Ousta
Ahmad Kassar
Nadia L Samaha
Rita Nemr
Anna Farra
Jacques E Mokhbat
Rola Husni
Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
cryptococcus
meningitis
immunomodulation
COVID-19
title Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword
title_full Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword
title_fullStr Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword
title_full_unstemmed Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword
title_short Cryptococcal meningitis post-covid-19 infection: Immunomodulation, a double-edged sword
title_sort cryptococcal meningitis post covid 19 infection immunomodulation a double edged sword
topic cryptococcus
meningitis
immunomodulation
COVID-19
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/17170
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