Acanthamoeba Infection and Nasal Rinsing, United States, 1994–2022

Abstract

We describe 10 patients with nonkeratitis Acanthamoeba infection who reported performing nasal rinsing before becoming ill. All were immunocompromised, 7 had chronic sinusitis, and many used tap water for nasal rinsing. Immunocompromised persons should be educated about safe nasal rinsing to prevent free-living ameba infections.

Keywords

• Acanthamoeba
• nasal rinsing
• amebae
• tap water
• granulomatous amebic encephalitis
• parasites