Acute meningoencephalitis with subdural empyema associated with <i>Acanthamoeba</i> in an immunocompetent individual
<i>Acanthamoeba</i>-induced meningoencephalitis is a rare and frequently fatal condition. We describe a case of acute <i>Acanthamoeba</i> meningoencephalitis complicated by subdural empyema in a previously healthy 50-year-old man who presented with high-grade fever, neck stiffness and left-sided hemiparesis. Neuroimaging revealed a subdural collection in the right fronto-temporo-parietal region, while cerebrospinal fluid analysis demonstrated neutrophilic pleocytosis with trophozoites morphologically consistent with <i>Acanthamoeba</i> species. The patient underwent burr-hole evacuation of the subdural collection and was managed with antimicrobial therapy and supportive care. The patient achieved complete recovery and was discharged after 2 weeks. This case underscores the importance of considering <i>Acanthamoeba</i> as a potential etiological agent in meningoencephalitis, even among immunocompetent individuals and highlights the critical role of early diagnosis and timely intervention in improving clinical outcomes.
Authors
- Samik Pramanik
- Samarendranath Samui
- Atanu Chandra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3809-8926)
- Sugata Dasgupta
- Francis J Kattady
- Moloy Makhal
Institutions
- Bankura Sammilani Medical College (IN)
- Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Published
- 2025-05-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1177/14782715251342120
- Primary Topic
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00