Fatal Balamuthia mandrillaris brain infection associated with improper nasal lavage.

Keenan J Piper, Swedish Medical Group, 550 17th Avenue Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Haidn Foster, Swedish Medical Group, 550 17th Avenue Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Daniel Susanto, Swedish Medical Group, 550 17th Avenue Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Cynthia L Maree, Swedish Medical Group, 550 17th Avenue Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Sean D Thornton, Swedish Medical Group, 550 17th Avenue Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA
Charles S Cobbs, Swedish Medical Group, 550 17th Avenue Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98122, USA

Abstract

We report the case of a 69-year-old female who presented with a chronic nasal skin rash, new onset focal seizure, and a cerebral ring-enhancing lesion after a year of improper nasal irrigation. Despite aggressive and novel anti-amoebic treatment, she died as a result of a Balamuthia mandrillaris brain infection.