title: Disseminated acanthamoebiasis after lung transplantation.
abstract: Protozoan infections in organ transplant recipients are rare. We report a fatal case of disseminated acanthamoebiasis in a bilateral lung transplant recipient that presented with cutaneous lesions, respiratory failure, and seizures. Acanthamoeba infection may be identified in transplant recipients with exposure to water who develop non-healing cutaneous ulcers with granulomatous inflammation. Cutaneous lesions are the initial manifestation of infection and a harbinger of dissemination. Early institution of combination anti-microbial therapy is therefore necessary for effective treatment and prevention of lethal spread to the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0561, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Farooq
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sattar
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Granwehr
authors.forename: Judith F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Aronson
authors.forename: Zhiqin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lick
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000469:parasitology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008174:Lung Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000469:parasitology; D011183:Postoperative Complications
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents