What Is Microbiology - Amebic Meningoencephalitis

​Amebic Meningoencephalitis

Amebic meningoencephalitis is caused by naegleria fowleri. Naegleria fowleri is an amebic.

Naegleria fowleri is detected via microscopic analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid which may reveal the present of trophozoites,erythrocytes and neutrophils. 

Naegleria fowleri is a form of ameba which can be cultured on a lawn of gram negative rod which will act as a food for the ameba. 

Naegleria fowleri infection may lead to rapid onset of fever, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, headache and alteration in the sensation of taste. Patient may develop into coma and death in less than a week. These are the common symptoms and signs of amebic meningoencephalitis. 

The mode of transmission may include swimming in the contaminated warm fresh water. Cyst of naegleria fowleri is resistant to chlorination. 

The trophozoites will enter the nasal mucosa and from cribriform plate invade the central nervous system.  The treatment may include rifampicin, amphotericin B and miccoazole.