Acanthamoeba

Rare Acanthamoeba Infection Kills 78-Year-Old Man After Months of Misdiagnosis

A 78-year-old man developed widespread black lesions and deep ulcers over six months, eventually destroying his left eyelid and creating a hole between his mouth and nasal cavity. After multiple misdiagnoses, Yale doctors identified Acanthamoeba—a common free-living amoeba found in tap water—as the cause. Despite aggressive treatment including CDC-recommended drugs and experimental nitroxoline, the man died six weeks after diagnosis. His case, published in Emerging Infectious Diseases, raises questions about potential risk factors including his use of dupilumab and nasal sinus rinses.