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Naegleria fowleri Infections: Bridging Clinical Observations and Epidemiological Insights

Carmen Rîpă1,2, Roxana Gabriela Cobzaru1,2, Miruna Raluca Rîpă3

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", Universitatii Street No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania.

Journal of Clinical Medicine
|January 25, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Rapid diagnosis and treatment are crucial for Naegleria fowleri infections, commonly known as brain-eating amoeba. Prompt intervention improves outcomes in primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) cases, given the high mortality rate.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a severe and often fatal brain infection.
  • PAM has a very low survival rate, approximately 5%, highlighting the critical need for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify Naegleria fowleri infections and analyze patient progression through a comprehensive literature review.
  • To emphasize the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment initiation for improving patient outcomes in PAM.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature review was conducted using "Naegleria fowleri" and "case report" as keywords.
  • Two independent reviewers screened 163 articles, with 52 selected for final analysis based on title, abstract, and full-text evaluation.

Main Results:

  • The review analyzed 52 case reports involving 98 patients (82.6% male), with cases reported globally.
  • Delayed treatment initiation until diagnosis confirmation was associated with rapid deterioration and poor outcomes, underscoring the 98% mortality rate.

Conclusions:

  • Standardization in case presentation is lacking, potentially leading to incomplete data and difficulties in determining infection causes.
  • The limited number of global cases may hinder the ability to make broad generalizations regarding treatment efficacy and patient prognosis.
Keywords:
Naegleria fowlericase reportcontaminated water

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