How to Avoid a Naegleria Fowleri Infection

Naegleria fowleri is a potentially deadly amoeba that lives in warm, fresh water that can cause a brain infection if it enters your nose. While the amoeba is relatively common, Naegleria fowleri infections are rare, with only 143 cases having been reported in the United States from 1962 to 2016. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid swimming in warm, fresh water, and if you do swim, to try to keep the water out of your nose. It's also a good idea to make sure you use sterilized or specially filtered water when rinsing your nose, as that is another way the ameba can enter the body.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Avoiding Infected Water

  1. This amoeba is found in warm water, especially in areas where the water stays warmer for longer periods of the year. For instance, many freshwater lakes and rivers in the southern United States may have this amoeba. [1]
    • Hot spring water is also susceptible to this amoeba.
    • Staying out of warm freshwater is the only sure way to avoid this type of infection.
  2. When water is too low, especially in the summer, it's more likely to develop harmful amoebas and bacteria like Naegleria Fowleri. If the water looks too low, skip swimming until it returns to normal. [2]
    • Similarly, if the water is stagnant and not moving, it's more likely to develop bacteria and amoebas.
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  3. Swimming pools that haven't been properly chlorinated could also contain the amoeba. If you notice a bad "chlorine" smell, slime, or murkiness, avoid swimming in that pool. [3]
    • However, contracting this amoeba from a swimming pool is relatively rare.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Preventing Infection While Swimming

  1. Since the amoeba enters the body through your nose, keeping your head out of the water will help prevent this infection, particularly in hot springs. Hot spring water is more susceptible to this amoeba, which is why you should be extra cautious in that situation. [4]
  2. To keep water from entering your nose, hold it whenever you stick your head below the water. That way, you're less likely to have the amoeba enter this way. [5]
    • Grasp your nose firmly with your pointer finger and middle finger, pinching it tightly so water doesn't enter it.
  3. A nose clip holds your nose closed for you. It may be a better option than using your fingers if you're doing serious swimming in warm waters. [6]
    • Another option is a swimming mask that covers your nose, too.
  4. These amoebas are more likely to reside in the sediment at the bottom of the river or lake. If you stir it up with your hands or kick it with your feet, you're more likely to encounter the amoeba in the water. [7]
    • If you do stir up sediment, get out of the water to prevent infection.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Choosing Water for Nasal Rinsing

  1. Sometimes, your tap water may be contaminated with this amoeba. While drinking it won't harm you, the ameba can enter your brain if you use the tap water for nasal rinsing without treating it first. [8]
    • If you're using a neti pot to clean your sinuses, take precautions, such as boiling, to treat the water.
    • Similarly, if you're practicing ritual nasal cleaning for your religious faith, make sure precautions are being taken to provide clean water.
  2. If you want to use tap water, boiling it will rid it of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba. After boiling it, let it cool down to lukewarm before you use it. [9]
    • Store the boiled water in a cleaned, sealed container for up to a day.
  3. These water filters can filter out certain parasites like the Naegleria fowleri. If you can't find one with those labels, look for one that says "absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller." [10]
    • You can find these filters online or in home improvement stores.
  4. If you don't want to mess with filtering or boiling the water yourself, you can buy water in the store. However, make sure the bottle says "distilled" or "sterile." Regular bottled water may be contaminated with this amoeba. [11]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you wash your face with tap water to prevent Naegleria Fowleri?
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.
    Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
    Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
    Expert Answer
    It's very unlikely that you will get Naegleria Fowleri while washing your face with tap water. It's also extremely rare to get the infection, especially if you live in a place like the United States where the water is treated. Although it's unlikely, it's possible to get the infection from tap water if you use it to rinse the inside of your nasal passages. To prevent infection, you can boil the water or use distilled water to rinse your sinuses. As long as you keep the water out of your nose while you wash your face, you shouldn't be at any risk.
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      Warnings

      • Look out for symptoms of the infection, especially if you have recently swum in warm bodies of freshwater or if you live in subtropical or tropical regions where tap water comes from warm water sources. The illness that results from this amoeba, primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, starts off by causing headaches, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/swimming.html
      2. ↑ http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/DiseasesandConditions/InfectiousDiseases/InsectAnimalBorne/ameoba/
      3. ↑ http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/DiseasesandConditions/InfectiousDiseases/InsectAnimalBorne/ameoba/
      4. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/swimming.html
      5. ↑ http://www.scdhec.gov/Health/DiseasesandConditions/InfectiousDiseases/InsectAnimalBorne/ameoba/
      6. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/swimming.html
      7. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/swimming.html
      8. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm316375.htm
      9. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm316375.htm
      1. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/pdf/naegleria-ritual-ablution-factsheet.pdf
      2. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm316375.htm

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