CHRONIC CRYPTOCOCCAL MENINGITIS IN AN INTRAVENOUS DRUG-ADDICT WITHOUTEVIDENCE OF INFECTION BY HIV-1,2 IN SOUTHERN ITALY

Before the emergence of AIDS, extrapulmonary cryptococcosis was very r are. By contrast, meningeal cryptococcosis is a very common opportunis tic infection in AIDS patients. We report an intravenous drug addict w ith cryptococcal meningitis, who was not infected with HIV and had no apparent predisposing conditions. This case, as those elsewhere descri bed, supports the potential existence of viral agents, other than HIV- 1,2, capable of encouraging the occurrence of unusual infections as ha ve emerged during the AIDS pandemic.