ð ç« æ«éèš
Naegleria fowleri (PAM)
- âBrain-eating amebaâ
- Warm freshwater swimming + diving + neti pot tap water
- Nasal â cribriform plate â olfactory â CNS
- Sudden severe headache + olfactory loss + stiff neck
- Mortality > 97%; < 10 survivors
- Treatment: combination (amphotericin B IV/IT + miltefosine + azithromycin + fluconazole + rifampin + dex + hypothermia)
- Prevention: nose clip, boiled neti pot water
Acanthamoeba
- Keratitis (contact lens wearers + tap water): ring corneal infiltrate, severe pain disproportionate
- GAE (immunocompromise): subacute chronic encephalitis
- Cutaneous + Disseminated (immunocompromise)
- Treatment keratitis: topical chlorhexidine/PHMB + propamidine + neomycin long course
- Treatment GAE: miltefosine + combination
Balamuthia mandrillaris
- Immunocompetent + immunocompromise
- Subacute / chronic GAE + cutaneous
- Soil + water exposure
- Miltefosine + multi-drug combination
- Cutaneous often precedes CNS
General
- Miltefosine = key drug for all 3
- CDC 24/7 hotline for treatment guidance
- Aggressive combination + early Tx = best chance survival
- Climate change expanding Naegleria range
- ç§é«åž« hint: æ¥ severe meningoencephalitis + freshwater exposure â PAM until R/O; contact lens + corneal pain â Acanthamoeba keratitis