Balamuthia mandrillaris
From IDWiki
Background
Microbiology
- One of the free-living amoebae
Epidemiology
- Present in soil
- More common in US and South America
- More common in Hispanics
Clinical Presentation
- Causes granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE) alone, skin lesions followed by GAE, or (rarely) skin lesions alone
- GAE is characterized by progressive hemorrhagic necrosis of brain, with 90% mortality
- Often preceded by skin lesions, typically affecting the nose and cheeks, that can progress over months
- Difficult to treat, with high mortality
