Acanthamoeba Meningoencephalitis: An Emerging Catastrophe—A Case Series from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Kolkata, Eastern India

Aim and background: Acanthamoeba spp.are rare etiological agents of meningoencephalitis with very high mortality as high as 100%.Case description: We cited six cases with of acanthamoeba meningitis from West Bengal, India.Out of all six cases, half are isolated infections with acanthamoeba, while the rest are co-infections with tuberculosis.All six patients presented to us with classic features of meningitis: Fever, photophobia, headache, and altered sensorium.Diagnosis is made by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) wet mount, Gram stain, and polymerase chain reaction.The most recurring CSF analysis findings were lymphocytic pleocytosis with low glucose and high protein content.All patients received Cotrimoxazole and fluconazole; the first four cases received Rifampicin additionally, and cases 1, 5, and 6 received Miltefosine.Patients with tuberculosis co-infection received anti-tubercular drugs additionally.Five three cases responded well to the therapy, recovered and currently under our follow-up, while one died.Clinical significance: Early diagnosis and prompt treatment will have excellent results.