Certain patients are at risk for developing fulminant amebic colitis (FAC). Once present, certain risk factors are associated with increased mortality.
All of these factors are associated with impaired host defenses. Any condition impairing host defenses (immunosuppression, immunodeficiency, etc) in theory could predispose to FAC.
Risk factors for mortality in a patient with fulminant amebic colitis:
(1) longer duration of symptoms prior to hospital admission (resulting in delayed management)
(2) lower white blood cell count (< 12,000 per µL)
(3) nonsurgical management
(4) surgical management without resection
(5) invasion of trophozoites into or through the muscularis propria of the bowel wall
where:
• An additional risk factor for mortality was hospital admission before 1971.
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