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Naegleria fowleri: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options

Eddie Grace1, Scott Asbill1, Kris Virga2

  • 1Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy, Clinton, South Carolina, USA.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
|August 12, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Naegleria fowleri, a rare but deadly brain-eating amoeba, causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. This review covers its pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, including North American survivor cases.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroparasitology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba found in warm freshwater and soil.
  • Infections, though rare, lead to primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a devastating and nearly always fatal neurological disease.
  • Recent high-profile cases have increased public awareness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathogenesis, diagnosis, pharmacotherapy, and prevention of Naegleria fowleri infections in humans.
  • To discuss treatment strategies based on limited clinical data.
  • To review documented survivor cases in North America.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of case reports and in vitro studies on Naegleria fowleri.
  • Analysis of clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes.
  • Compilation of information on prevention strategies.

Main Results:

  • Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) has a high mortality rate.
  • Treatment efficacy data is primarily derived from case reports and in vitro studies due to the rarity of human infections.
  • Few documented cases of human survivors exist, offering limited insights into effective treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Effective treatment strategies for Naegleria fowleri infections are not well-established due to limited clinical trial data.
  • Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of available therapeutic options are crucial.
  • Further research, including case studies of survivors, is needed to improve treatment outcomes and prevention measures.

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