TWiP 222: Balamuthia in the brain with Natasha Spottiswoode

This Week in Parasitism

At the meeting of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygeine in Chicago, Natasha joins TWiP to solve the case of the Man with a Generalized Seizure and Infectious Forms in the Brain.

Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula

Guest: Natasha Spottiswoode

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Links for this episode

• Treatment of Balamuthia encephalitis with nitroxoline (Emerg Inf Dis)
• Letters read on TWiP 222

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Case Study for TWiP 222

Haitian creole speaking, cachetic female in her 50s w/ hx HIV (noncompliant on medication), migrating from Haiti brought in by her daughter for dysphagia, cough x days, associated with NBNB vomiting, oral thrush extending to soft palate, concerning for oropharyngeal candidiasis. Weeks of nonresolving diarrhea. Admitted for failure to thrive and deconditioning, found to be Parainfluenza 3 positive), undergoing TB rule out. Diarrhea is voluminous, pt is dehydrated, there has been significant weight loss and lethargy over the last few weeks.

MHx:

HIV

Shx:

Lives in haiti

Remarried, Last sexual encounter 2 years ago.

Denies illicit drug use. Drinks alcohol

Allergies: No Active Allergies

Labs return with CD4 count in the 50s, elevated viral load. CD4 55/3%

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Music by Ronald Jenkees