Successful treatment of Acanthamoeba rhinosinusitis in a patient with AIDS

AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2005 Oct;19(10):621-5. doi: 10.1089/apc.2005.19.621.

Abstract

Acanthamoeba infection is a rare, difficult-to-treat, and often fatal, opportunistic parasitic infection in immunocompromised hosts, such as patients infected with HIV. We describe an aggressive nasal and sinus infection by Acanthamoeba spp. in a person with AIDS. The resolution of this Acanthamoeba infection was secondary to a multidisciplinary treatment approach involving a combination of surgery as well as high-dose amphotericin B plus 5-fluorocytosine. In the era of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the present report underscores the need for early identification and prompt aggressive treatment to ensure successful management of this rare but potentially fatal opportunistic infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / parasitology
  • Acanthamoeba / drug effects*
  • Adult
  • Amebiasis / drug therapy*
  • Amebiasis / parasitology
  • Amebicides / therapeutic use
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Flucytosine / therapeutic use
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rhinitis / drug therapy*
  • Rhinitis / parasitology
  • Sinusitis / drug therapy*
  • Sinusitis / parasitology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Amebicides
  • Amphotericin B
  • Flucytosine