Plasmodium falciparum malaria associated with mefloquine failure in Gambia

Pharmacotherapy. 2006 Oct;26(10):1526-8. doi: 10.1592/phco.26.10.1526.

Abstract

A 25-year-old Caucasian man developed Plasmodium falciparum malaria after traveling to Gambia, despite having received chemoprophylaxis with mefloquine. The patient was hospitalized after returning to the United States. He received a 3-day course of atovaquone-proguanil and made a complete recovery. This case illustrates the potential role of pharmacists in the pharmaceutical care of travelers and underscores the importance of using current recommendations for preventing and treating malaria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Atovaquone / therapeutic use
  • Chemoprevention
  • Gambia
  • Humans
  • Malaria / drug therapy
  • Malaria / etiology
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mefloquine / pharmacology
  • Mefloquine / therapeutic use*
  • Plasmodium falciparum*
  • Proguanil / therapeutic use
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Travel
  • Treatment Failure*
  • United States

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Proguanil
  • Mefloquine
  • Atovaquone