Thalamic abscess caused by a rare pathogen: streptococcus constellatus.

Özgür Şenol,Necati Tatarlı,Hikmet Turan Süslü,Bülent Güçlü,Mehmet Tiryaki

doi:10.11604/pamj.2016.24.256.9468

Abstract

Streptococcus constellatus is a microorganism that lives commensally in the oropharyngeal region, urogenital region, and intestinal tract. However, it can cause infection in patients with certain predisposing factors. Rarely, this microorganism can cause a brain abscess. Thalamic localization of brain abscesses is much rarer than abscesses in other locations of the brain. Brain abscess caused by streptococcus constellatus are very rarely been reported in the literature. We present a rare case of a left-sided thalamic abscess caused by streptococcus constellatus in a 25-year-old male patient who was injured by shrapnel pieces in the head and who was malnourished. The patient was successfully treated by stereotactic aspiration and antibiotherapy.

Highlights

Streptococcus constellatus is a member of the Streptococcus family and is part of the normal flora of the oral cavity, urogenital region, and intestinal tract
Thalamic abscesses are much rarer than abscesses in other locations of the brain [4,5]
We present a rare case of a left-sided thalamic abscess that was caused by streptococcus constellatus in a 25-year-old malnourished male patient who was wounded in the head by shrapnel

Summary

Introduction

Streptococcus constellatus is a member of the Streptococcus family and is part of the normal flora of the oral cavity, urogenital region, and intestinal tract It can cause purulent infections in patients with cirrhosis, diabetes, malignancy, malnourishment, or conditions that cause immunosuppression [1]. We present a rare case of a left-sided thalamic abscess that was caused by streptococcus constellatus in a 25-year-old malnourished male patient who was wounded in the head by shrapnel. A 25-year-old male was brought to the hospital with a chief complaint of headache associated with vomiting, mild fever, and right-sided paresis He had been found near a small river, lying on the ground in very bad condition. Follow-up cranial MRI after 12 weeks of the intravenous antibiotic regimen showed normalization of abnormal lesions and disappearance of the remaining brain abscess (Figure 5 and Figure 6)

Discussion

Findings

Conclusion