Presentation
[…] are ubiquitously present and are capable of causing human disease. [doi.org]
This case highlights novel presentations and treatments for acanthamoebic infection. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Entire Body System
- Intravenous Administration
Of note, subcutaneous and/or intravenous administration exhibits 100% bioavailability, with a half-life of 40 min. Potential routes of metabolism in humans include sulfation, N-demethylation, glucuronidation, and oxidation. [doi.org]
Respiratoric
- Sputum
Sputum specimen revealed alive Acanthamoeba with pseudopods and cysts. Sputum culture resulted in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and cerebrospinal fluid was supportive for Acanthamoeba with 1-3 trophozoites and cyst. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Eyes
- Lagophthalmos
[…] patients ( n = 53) Demographics Males 38 (71.7) Females 15 (28.3) Mean age ± SD (yr) 37.92 ± 19.24 Age range (yr) 2-86 Predisposing factors Contact lens wear 0 Trauma 29 (54.7) Diabetes 1 (01.9) Leprosy 1 (01.9) Prior surgery 6 (11.3) Blepharitis 1 (01.9) Lagophthalmos [pubmedcentral.nih.gov]
Neurologic
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
The species C. jejuni is the causative agent of about 90% of human campylobacteriosis cases worldwide and this disease may even end up in severe autoimmune sequelae as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
- Encephalopathy
A tentative diagnosis of left lower lobe pneumonitis with sepsis and hepatic encephalopathy was made and treatment with ampicillin 1G intravenously six hourly and cefoperazone-sulbactum 2G intravenously twice a day was started. [doi.org]
- Akathisia
[…] prochlorperazine is 50 mg per day in adults and 12.5 mg intravenously (i.v.), and the half-life is 8 to 9 h, with peak plasma levels within 6 h, but it may exhibit a wide range of side effects, such as acute dystonic reactions, pseudoparkinsonism, or akathisia [doi.org]
Workup
Microbiology
- Chlamydia
However, whether amoebae harboring environmental chlamydiae actually survive in hospital environments is unknown. We therefore isolated living amoebae with symbiotic chlamydiae from hospital environments. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Daniele Corsaro, Karl-Dieter Müller, Jost Wingender and Rolf Michel, “Candidatus Mesochlamydia elodeae” (Chlamydiae: Parachlamydiaceae), a novel chlamydia parasite of free-living amoebae, Parasitology Research, 112, 2, (829), (2013). [doi.org]
- Nocardia Asteroides
asteroides − 14 604/02 − − − − − 15 607/02 Acanthamoeba cysts Acanthamoeba cysts Acanthamoeba cysts Acanthamoeba spp. + 16 632/02 FF FF FF UIHF − 17 652/02 FF FF FF Aspergillus niger − 18 653/02 FF FF FF Aspergillus niger − 19 654/02 FF FF FF UIHF − [pubmedcentral.nih.gov]
- Aspergillus Niger
niger − 18 653/02 FF FF FF Aspergillus niger − 19 654/02 FF FF FF UIHF − 20 661/02 − Acanthamoeba cysts ND − + 21 710/02 − GPC Cocci Streptococcus pneumoniae − 22 753/02 ND − ND − − 23 788/02 Acanthamoeba cysts Acanthamoeba cysts Acanthamoeba cysts Acanthamoeba [pubmedcentral.nih.gov]
Treatment
Interestingly, amphotericin B was the only drug presenting an increase of IC 50 as a function of treatment duration. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis
Acanthameoba keratitis is a serious ophthalmological condition with a potentially vision-threatening prognosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
“The key to it … is to recognize that the earlier you can diagnose these and initiate treatment, the better the prognosis,” Kaufman said. Currently, there are no U.S. [healio.com]
Disseminated disease and GAE carry a poor prognosis, and treatment strategies are not well defined; Acanthamoeba keratitis is a sight-threatening infection that carries a favorable prognosis when diagnosed and treated early. [emedicine.medscape.com]
“I think that the take home message is that if one can wait and try to cure the infection medically and then do the transplant, the prognosis of the graft will be better,” she said. [eyeworld.org]
Etiology
Chałubinskiego 5, 02-004 Warsaw, Poland Abstract Amphizoic amoebae belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba are known as etiological agents of sight-threatening Acanthamoeba keratitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Eight Acanthamoeba species have been isolated as etiologic agents in Acanthamoeba keratitis : A. castellanii, A. polyphaga, A. culbertsoni, A. hatchetti, A. rhysodes, A. lugdunensis, A. quina and A. griffini. [en.vircell.com]
[…] with lymphocyte predominance Elevated red blood cells (RBCs) with disease progression in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis Culture CSF examination for trophozoites with Wright or Giemsa stain Consider viral panel testing to rule out most common viral etiologies [arupconsult.com]
This is why the clinical symptoms alone, as non- pathognomonic, are not sufficient to indicate an etiological agent of human keratitis. [intechopen.com]
Epidemiology
De Jonckheere, Laboratory of Protozoology, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, J. Wytsmanstraat 14, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Search for other works by this author on: Johan F. [doi.org]
Epidemiologic significance of A. triangularis as a keratopathogen in Korea has been discussed. Morphologic features of Acanthamoeba cysts were examined under a microscope with differential interference contrast (DIC) optics. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Aetiology of suppurative corneal ulcers in Ghana and South India and epidemiology of fungal keratitis. Br J Ophthalmol86: 1211-1215. [raredisorders.imedpub.com]
12 December 2014 UCL research has identified epidemics of Acanthamoeba infection amongst UK contact lens wearers, established the epidemiology of the infection, introduced improved approaches to contact lens hygiene, developed the most sensitive test [ucl.ac.uk]
Pathophysiology
The mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis remain unclear; however pathophysiological complications involving the CNS most likely include induction of pro-inflammatory responses, invasion of the blood-brain barrier and the connective tissue and neuronal [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prevention
The Dot/Icm secretion system was necessary for L. pneumophila to prevent the eukaryotic proliferation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Overall, UCL work has improved the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of AK. Guidelines for the prevention of AK now incorporate UCL findings. [ucl.ac.uk]
Many eye doctors also say you should discard and replace your contact lens case monthly or, at a minimum, every three months to help prevent contamination. Prevention is your best defense against Acanthamoeba keratitis. [allaboutvision.com]