Patients with ICD-10-CM codes for Naegleriasis in U.S. hospitals, 2016-2024: A retrospective analysis of administrative data.

OBJECTIVES

Naegleria fowleri is a free-living amoeba that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare and nearly always fatal infection. Other free-living amoebae may cause similar presentations. This study characterizes demographic features, clinical outcomes, and antimicrobial use among patients coded with naegleriasis in a large administrative database.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted using the Vizient® Clinical Database, which includes discharge-level data from over 500 U.S. hospitals. Patients discharged between January 2016 and February 2024 with ICD-10-CM code B60.2 (naegleriasis) were identified. Demographics, inpatient mortality, antimicrobial use, and discharge disposition were summarized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients were identified. The mean age was 37 years; 73% were adults. In-hospital mortality was 50%. Survivors had longer hospital stays than nonsurvivors. Amphotericin B and fluconazole were the most used antimicrobials. Diagnostic confirmation of PAM was unavailable, and additional clinical details were not accessible.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients coded with naegleriasis were mostly adults and had lower mortality than expected for confirmed PAM. The 50% survival rate suggests possible misclassification. These findings are hypothesis-generating and highlight the need for case-based studies with laboratory confirmation to clarify epidemiologic trends.