Successful Treatment of a Balamuthia mandrillaris Cerebral Abscess in a Pediatric Patient With Complete Surgical Resection and Antimicrobial Therapy

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2022 Feb 1;41(2):e54-e57. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003418.

Abstract

Cerebral amebic encephalitis due to Balamuthia mandrillaris is a rare yet typically fatal disease. As such, identification of the clinical characteristics, appropriate diagnostic workup and commencement of treatment is frequently delayed. Here, we present a case of a 4-year-old male with a B. mandrillaris cerebral abscess successfully treated with expedited neurosurgical resection and broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amebiasis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Amebiasis* / drug therapy
  • Amebiasis* / surgery
  • Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Balamuthia mandrillaris*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Abscess* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Abscess* / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess* / surgery
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / drug therapy
  • Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections* / surgery
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Male

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents