Future Priorities in Tackling Infections Due to Brain-Eating Amoebae

ACS Chem Neurosci. 2017 Nov 15;8(11):2355. doi: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00343. Epub 2017 Sep 21.

Abstract

Brain-eating amoebae (Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Naegleria fowleri) can cause opportunistic infections involving the central nervous system. It is troubling that the mortality rate is more than 90% despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy over the last few decades. Here, we describe urgent key priorities for improving outcomes from infections due to brain-eating amoebae.

Keywords: Amoebae; brain-eating; central nervous system; infection.

MeSH terms

  • Acanthamoeba / drug effects
  • Acanthamoeba / genetics
  • Animals
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / supply & distribution
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Balamuthia mandrillaris / drug effects
  • Balamuthia mandrillaris / genetics
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / mortality
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / parasitology
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / prevention & control
  • Drug Discovery
  • Forecasting
  • Health Priorities*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Naegleria fowleri / drug effects
  • Naegleria fowleri / genetics
  • Opportunistic Infections / parasitology
  • Opportunistic Infections / prevention & control
  • Point-of-Care Testing
  • Research*

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents