Naegleria Fowleri is classified as a pathogenic free-living amoeba that is likely to be found within water and soil habitats. Unlike other waterborne pathogens, Naegleria Fowleri does not cause infections through drinking. Individuals get infections from the amoeba only through the nostrils. Infections normally occur when swimming in contaminated water bodies as the water gets into a person’s nose (Vegezzi et al., 2021). Amoeba infections are rare as they are most likely to occur during warmer seasons or only in generally warm regions.
Primarily, Naegleria Fowleri infection causes Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, which is the central nervous system that is fatal. Considering the potential health consequence of the Naegleria Fowleri amoeba, analysis to obtain a fast diagnosis is considered crucial to allow early treatment procedures. Free-living amoebae-caused infections are extremely rare. According to the CDC (2021), there have only been 151 reported cases of Amoebic Meningoencephalitis since 1962. Several analysis methods could be used to analyze the amoeba; however, it will be effective to focus on using the direct Visualization technique.
Collection of the cerebral spinal (CSF) fluid used during the analysis is done on an individual’s lumbar region located in their lower back. The spinal tap, also known as lumbar puncture, involves inserting a needle between two lumbar vertebrae to extract the CSF. To prevent any issues, the patient is expected to lie on their side during the procedure. The insertion surface is cleaned with a sterile solution and then sprayed with a numbing agent before extracting the needle. Through the needle, the extracted fluid is directed into a sterile tube for storage and analysis. Four vials will be used during each holding between 1 and 10 ml of the fluid (Vegezzi et al., 2021). Sterile tubes are necessary during such a procedure to ensure that the collected specimen does not contact any external contamination agents. Even though spinal tap procedures are considered to be safe, it poses some extreme risks. The most common risks during the spinal tap procedure include bleeding, severe pain, post-puncture headaches, bleeding, and brain or spinal damage. Therefore, it is essential to prepare the patient before the procedure adequately. After the process, services should also be offered to the patient to prevent any further complications.
After collection, the specimen is then analyzed through visualization to help determine the presence of Naegleria Fowleri amoeba. The cerebral fluid is usually clear and has a water-like consistency. Under a microscope, any foreign substances are likely to be identified, and both light and electron microscopes could be used during visual analysis. On a magnified view, Naegleria Fowleri could be easily identified as they move through swimming. Staining the specimen using hematoxylin and eosin helps improve the resulting image as it helps outline the amoeba (CDC, 2021). Unlike other cells, Naegleria Fowleri amoeba has large circular nuclei that would help during identification, and it is easy distinguished from other cells
The presence of microscopic organisms with these features during the direct visualization process would signify the presence of Naegleria Fowleri amoeba. Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, which Naegleria Fowleri causes, has a very high fatality rate despite being rare (Vegezzi et al., 2021). Positive results of having the infection would result in immediate intervention, while different techniques could be implemented to prevent any misdiagnosis. Doctors are expected to restructure their mindset while diagnosing the disease since the symptoms are similar to most water contamination diseases.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Usually, infections from Naegleria Fowleri start presenting signs and symptoms between two to eight days and are almost similar to those presented by meningitis. Among these symptoms, the most common include fever, severe headache, seizures, photophobia, nausea, confusion, and in extreme cases, coma (Grace et al., 2017). While illnesses from Naegleria Fowleri are rare, they are considered fatal and could lead to death within ten days. Furthermore, its rarity has led to the absence of an effective treatment option due to the limited clinical drug testing. Naegleria Fowleri infections have a high fatality rate, and recovery from Naegleria Fowleri infection is extremely rare. Accurate and fast diagnoses alongside immediate treatment, however, increase the chances of success. The success rate of the treatment process could also be improved through aA combination of several acceptable drugs.
References
CDC. (2021). Naegleria Fowleri: Illness & Symptoms. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Grace, E., Virga, K., & Asbill, S. (2016). Naegleria Fowleri: Diagnosis, the pathophysiology of brain inflammation, and antimicrobial treatments. ACS Publications. Web.
Vegezzi, E., Gastaldi, M., & Cortese, A. (2021). Towards a standardized analysis of CSF in inflammatory neuropathies. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 92(9), 916-916. Web.