Utility of multimodal monitoring in children with cerebral free-living amoebae in intensive care. Account of a fatal clinical case

Abstract

Acanthamoeba spp. and Balamuthia mandrillaris are causative agents of granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), while Naegleria fowleri causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM is an acute infection lasting a few days, whereas GAE is a chronic or subacute infection that can last up to several months. In the present case we report a 10-year-old girl with amebic encephalitis symptomatology, evolution, medical-surgical intervention, specific therapy, and patient outcome. Cerebral involvement continues to have high mortality in pediatric patients, despite guided therapy through multimodal monitoring in pediatric intensive care, however noninvasive methods during cerebral evaluation play an important role in optimizing cerebral hemodynamics at the patient's bedside. We conclude that this case demonstrates the usefulness of multimodal monitoring, where we used intraparenchymal ICP sensor, conventional Transcranial Doppler, NIRS, color coded transcranial doppler, optic nerve sheath measurement, DVNO/DTO ratio, pupillometry, and EEG that helped to make appropriate decisions during the clinical evolution of our patient, which would help us to make an early diagnosis and avoid delays in interventions.