Genoa hospital treats rare parasitic liver abscess

Medical specialists at Galliera Hospital in Genoa have successfully treated a rare case of a 9-centimeter liver abscess caused by the tropical parasite Entamoeba histolytica. The patient, who had no prior medical history, presented with three weeks of high fever, fatigue, and right-side abdominal pain.

After standard antibiotics failed to provide relief, an abdominal CT scan revealed the large abscess. Through advanced molecular techniques, the Microbiology Laboratory identified the parasite, noting that the patient’s last travel to a high-risk tropical area had occurred approximately ten years prior.

Rather than performing major surgery, the Interventional Radiology team utilized a minimally invasive percutaneous drainage procedure to empty the infection. The patient recovered within 14 days of hospitalization. Medical experts noted that the case highlights the necessity of multidisciplinary collaboration between infectious disease, radiology, and microbiology departments to diagnose pathogens that may reactivate years after initial exposure.