Systemic Candidiasis in Spanish Heroin Addicts: A Possible Source of Infection

Systemic candidiasis in heroin addicts is caused by Candida albicans and is characterized by cutaneous, ocular, and osteoarticular (mainly chondrocostal) involvement. This new syndrome has been associated with using "brown heroin" which, is usually dissolved in lemon juice or another acidi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1987-11, Vol.156 (5), p.857-858
Main Authors: Miró, J. M., De La Bellacasa, J. Puio, Odds, F. C., Gill, B. K., Bisbe, J., Gatell, J. M., Gonzalez, J., Latorre, X., Jimenez De Anta, M. T., Soriano, E., Garcia San Miguel, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Candida albicans
Candida albicans - growth & development
Candida albicans - isolation & purification
Candidiasis
Candidiasis - etiology
Candidiasis - transmission
Citrus
Correspondence
Drug addiction
Drug carriers
Heroin
Heroin Dependence - complications
Heroin Dependence - microbiology
Humans
Infections
Lemon juice
Oropharynx
Spain
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Summary:Systemic candidiasis in heroin addicts is caused by Candida albicans and is characterized by cutaneous, ocular, and osteoarticular (mainly chondrocostal) involvement. This new syndrome has been associated with using "brown heroin" which, is usually dissolved in lemon juice or another acidic substance before injection. C. albicans has not been isolated from pure heroin samples or from samples confiscated from street dealers, and pure heroin inhibits the organism's growth (MIC, 25-30 mg/ml). C. albicans has been isolated from injection paraphernalia, fresh lemons, and plastic "lemons" (containing bottled lemon juice) handled by drug addicts. The authors tested the hypothesis that lemon juice used to dissolve brown heroin becomes contaminated by strains of C. albicans colonizing the addicts who handled them. The contaminated lemon juice could then become the source of systemic Candida infections.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1093/infdis/156.5.857