Acanthamoeba Infection and Nasal Rinsing, United States, 1994-2022

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Acanthamoeba infections are rare but can cause severe disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
• Nasal rinsing is a common practice for sinus and allergy relief.
• Tap water can harbor free-living amebas, including Acanthamoeba species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential link between nasal rinsing practices and nonkeratitis Acanthamoeba infections.
• To identify risk factors associated with Acanthamoeba infections in a specific patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series describing 10 patients with nonkeratitis Acanthamoeba infection.
• Review of patient histories, focusing on nasal rinsing habits and underlying health conditions.

Main Results:

• All 10 patients had nonkeratitis Acanthamoeba infection.
• All patients were immunocompromised; 7 had a history of chronic sinusitis.
• A significant number of patients reported using tap water for nasal rinsing prior to infection.

Conclusions:

• Nasal rinsing, particularly with tap water, may pose a risk for Acanthamoeba infection in immunocompromised individuals.
• Healthcare providers should educate immunocompromised patients about the risks of using tap water for nasal rinsing.
• Safe nasal rinsing practices are essential to prevent opportunistic free-living ameba infections.