title: Balamuthia mandrillaris brain abscess successfully treated with complete surgical excision and prolonged combination antimicrobial therapy.
abstract: Amoebic encephalitis is an uncommon and usually fatal condition. This case describes successful treatment of a Balamuthia mandrillaris brain abscess using prolonged antimicrobial agents with complete excision. It illustrates the risk of dissemination from cutaneous to cerebral amoebic lesions, potential progression with corticosteroid therapy, and the prospect for curative excision.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. joseph.doyle@alumni.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Emer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fuller
authors.forename: Denis W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Spelman
authors.forename: Rhoda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malham
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gin
authors.forename: Sharon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lewin
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D016841:Amoebida; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents