Inability to make a premortem diagnosis of Acanthamoeba species infection in a patient with fatal granulomatous amebic encephalitis

Abstract

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), an infection of immunocompromised hosts, is almost uniformly fatal. A case of GAE in a patient who failed to mount a serologic response to Acanthamoeba polyphaga is presented. Although Acanthamoeba polyphaga that is sensitive to multiple antimicrobials grew from brain tissue, an inability to make a premortem diagnosis precluded therapy. Copyright © 2005, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.