Acanthamoeba

Background

Microbiology

• One of the free-living amoebae

Clinical Presentation

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis

• Subacute presentation of encephalitis (fever, headache, nuchal rigidity, behaviour changes, altered level of conciousness)
• Often preceded by cutaneous lesions

Amoebic keratitis

• Sight- and eye-threatening infection
• Often secondary to corneal trauma or improper contact lens hygiene
• Present with severe pain, photophobia, tearing
• May see dendiform epitheliopathy or stromal ring

Management

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis

• Can consider a combinaction of pentamidine, azoles, flucytosine, sulfadiazine, miltefosine, amikacin, and voriconazole