title: Acanthamoeba encephalitis.
abstract: Central nervous system infection with free-living amoebae is rare. We present a fatal case of Acanthamoeba encephalitis in a 63-year-old female from India where acanthamoebae were demonstrated and cultured from CSF. In spite of treatment with amphotericin B, fluconazole and rifampicin the patient did not survive. Amoebic infection should be suspected in a patient of encephalitis of unexplained aetiology as timely diagnosis can lead to a favourable outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana-141 001, Punjab, India. kaushal_vandana@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaushal
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Chhina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Pannu
authors.forename: H P S
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dhooria
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chhina
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000469:parasitology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000469:parasitology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008875:Middle Aged; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D012293:Rifampin