



Clinicians: CDC now has an investigational drug called miltefosine available for treatment of free-living ameba (FLA) infections caused by Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris, and Acanthamoeba species. If you have a patient with suspected FLA infection, please contact the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 to consult with a CDC expert regarding the use of this drug.

  Trophozoites of B. mandrillaris in culture.

Trophozoites of B. mandrillaris in culture.

Although there have been more than 200 cases of Balamuthia infection worldwide, few patients are known to have survived as a result of successful drug treatment 1,2. Early diagnosis and treatment might increase the chances for survival 3.

Drugs used in treating Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) caused by Balamuthia have included a combination of flucytosine, pentamidine, fluconazole, sulfadiazine and either azithromycin or clarithromycin 1,2,4,5. Recently, miltefosine in combination with some of these other drugs has shown some promise 2. Much more information is needed in treating patients with GAE due to Balamuthia.

  1. Perez MT, Bush LM. Balamuthia mandrillaris amebic encephalitis. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2007;9(4):323-8.
  2. Martínez DY, Seas C, Bravo F, Legua P, Ramos C, Cabello AM, Gotuzzo E. Successful treatment of Balamuthia mandrillaris amoebic infection with extensive neurological and cutaneous involvement. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;51(2):e7-11.
  3. Siddiqui R, Khan NA. Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis: an emerging disease with fatal consequences. Microb Pathog. 2008;44(2):89-97.
  4. Cary LC, Maul E, Potter C, Wong P, Nelson PT, Given C 2nd, Robertson W Jr. Balamuthia mandrillaris meningoencephalitis: survival of a pediatric patient. Pediatrics. 2010;125(3):e699-703.
  5. Drugs for Parasitic Infections: The Medical Letter; 2010.