Disseminated acanthamoebiasis after lung transplantation.

Abstract

Protozoan infections in organ transplant recipients are rare. We report a fatal case of disseminated acanthamoebiasis in a bilateral lung transplant recipient that presented with cutaneous lesions, respiratory failure, and seizures. Acanthamoeba infection may be identified in transplant recipients with exposure to water who develop non-healing cutaneous ulcers with granulomatous inflammation. Cutaneous lesions are the initial manifestation of infection and a harbinger of dissemination. Early institution of combination anti-microbial therapy is therefore necessary for effective treatment and prevention of lethal spread to the central nervous system.

• Authors: Alexander G Duarte, Farooq Sattar, Bruno Granwehr, Judith F Aronson, Zhiqin Wang, Scott Lick
• Journal: The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation (J Heart Lung Transplant) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 237-40 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 1557-3117 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16446227 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents

Topics

• Acanthamoeba (drug effects, isolation & purification)
• Amebiasis (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Animals
• Anti-Infective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Disease Susceptibility (parasitology)
• Fatal Outcome
• Humans
• Lung Diseases, Parasitic (diagnosis, drug therapy, etiology, pathology)
• Lung Transplantation
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Opportunistic Infections (parasitology)
• Postoperative Complications