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Disseminated Acanthamoeba sinusitis in a patient with AIDS: a possible role for early antiretroviral therapy

Wendy W Carter1, Sandra G Gompf, John F Toney

  • 1University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA.

The AIDS Reader
|February 13, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Acanthamoeba infections can cause severe sinusitis and disseminated disease, particularly in individuals with AIDS. Early treatment, including highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), offers hope for survival in this rare but serious condition.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Acanthamoeba, a ubiquitous free-living amoeba, can cause opportunistic infections in humans, including sinusitis, encephalitis, and keratitis.
  • Disseminated Acanthamoeba infections, often presenting as sinusitis, are frequently associated with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and carry a high mortality rate.

Observation:

  • A case study of a 35-year-old woman with disseminated Acanthamoeba infection as the initial manifestation of undiagnosed AIDS is presented.
  • The patient experienced sinusitis that progressed to systemic dissemination of the amoeba.

Findings:

  • Successful treatment of disseminated Acanthamoeba infection in an AIDS patient was achieved.
  • This patient represents one of the few documented long-term survivors of disseminated Acanthamoeba infection in the context of AIDS.

Implications:

  • Early and aggressive therapeutic interventions, including highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), may significantly improve outcomes for patients with disseminated Acanthamoeba infections and AIDS.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering Acanthamoeba as an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised individuals and the potential benefit of prompt, comprehensive treatment strategies.

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