Successful Treatment of a Balamuthia mandrillaris Cerebral Abscess in a Pediatric Patient With Complete Surgical Resection and Antimicrobial Therapy
Joshua A. Cuoco, Brendan J. Klein, David P. LeBel, Jason Faulhaber, Lisa S. Apfel, Mark R. Witcher
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.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineAntimicrobialBrain abscessAbscessResectionBroad spectrumSurgical resectionDiseaseSurgeryPathologyBiologyMicrobiologyCombinatorial chemistryChemistryLegionella and Acanthamoeba researchCerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalusAmoebic Infections and Treatments