Amoeba Infection Leads to Death of 78-Year-Old Man in Rare Case
Man dies covered in necrotic lesions after amoebas eat him alive
Ars Technica
Image: Ars Technica
A 78-year-old man developed severe necrotic lesions caused by the Acanthamoeba amoeba, which is typically found in tap water. Despite being transferred to a specialized hospital for treatment, the infection proved fatal, highlighting the risks posed by this opportunistic pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
- 01The man suffered from necrotic lesions and ulcers for six months before diagnosis.
- 02Acanthamoeba is a free-living amoeba found in tap water that can cause severe infections.
- 03Typically, Acanthamoeba infections affect immunocompromised patients, but this man did not fit that profile.
- 04The amoeba can lead to serious conditions such as eye infections and brain infections.
- 05Acanthamoeba has been detected in over 50% of US tap water samples.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
A 78-year-old man developed alarming black lesions and deep ulcers over six months, which puzzled doctors until he was transferred to Yale School of Medicine. There, they identified the cause as Acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba commonly found in tap water. This opportunistic pathogen typically affects those with weakened immune systems, but the man did not fall into this category. Acanthamoeba can cause severe infections, including Acanthamoeba keratitis, which can lead to permanent vision loss, and granulomatous amebic encephalitis, a rare brain infection. The case, reported in the journal *Emerging Infectious Diseases*, underscores the dangers of this amoeba, which has been found in over 50% of US tap water samples.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
This case raises awareness about the potential dangers of Acanthamoeba infections, especially for individuals with weakened immune systems.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Are you concerned about the safety of tap water in your area?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.