title: Acanthamoeba rhinosinusitis: characterization, diagnosis, and treatment.
abstract: Nasal and paranasal sinus manifestations are among the most common presentations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Several studies cite that as many as 70% of patients with this disease have symptoms referable to the head and neck, including a 30% prevalence of sinusitis. Although the bacteriology of sinusitis in this population is largely considered comparable to that of immunocompetent patients, several opportunistic pathogens have been identified, particularly when T-cell counts are low. This report identifies Acanthamoeba as a potentially fatal cause of rhinosinusitis in immunosuppressed patients. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of this rare entity will be discussed and the literature reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1904 Taubman Center, 1500 Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0312, USA.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Teknos
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Poulin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laruentano
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents