Focal Intracranial Infections Research Articles

Surgical Management of Brain Abscess in Bauchi, Nigeria: A Single-Center Study

Abstract Context: Brain abscess is an area of focal intracranial infection, which begins with cerebritis and later become capsular stage with surrounding vascularization. The route of transmission is mainly through contiguous structures, hematogenous spread, and complication of traumatic brain injury. Brain abscess continues to pose great challenges in diagnosis and treatment in both developed and developing countries. We investigated the demography, clinical presentations, laboratory, and factors associated with the outcomes. Aims: To review the patients with brain abscess that were managed in our hospital and to determine the factors that predict the outcomes. Setting and Design: Retrospective cross-sectional design. Methodology: We conducted a study on twenty-nine patients who had surgical treatment for intracerebral brain abscess in our facility between September 2018 and September 2022. Demography, clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcomes of the patients were analyzed. Statistical Analysis Used: Categorical data were analyzed with the Chi-square, and multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for the outcomes of the patients. Results: Twenty-nine patients had surgical drainage of intracerebral abscess in various locations. Male-to-female ratio is of 2.2:1. Most intracranial abscesses, that had surgical intervention occurred in the 2nd and 4th decade of life, with each accounting for 31%. The predisposing factors were mainly chronic otitis media (28%), chronic sinusitis (14%), post-meningitis (24%), and post-TBI (17%). All the patients had headache, and only 24% of them had seizure at presentation. Positive bacterial culture was seen in 31% of the patients. Sex and the presence of headache were independently associated with poor outcome with P value of 0.005 and 0.033, respectively. Conclusion: Prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment are key to improving prognosis. Most of our patients had good outcome. However, sex and headache as factors are poor predictors of poor prognosis.

SALMONELLA ENTERICA SEROVAR TYPHI (SALMONELLA TYPHI) BRAIN ABSCESS AFTER BRAIN SURGERY: A CASE REPORT

Salmonella typhi (Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi) is one of the pathogens responsible for typhoid fever, a major public health problem in low and middle-income countries like Pakistan. Typhoid fever caused by S. typhi can result in severe disease with protean complications like gastrointestinal hemorrhage and perforation, endocarditis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, pneumonia or typhoid encephalopathy but focal intracranial infections like brain abscess is a rare occurrence. We are reporting a case of S. typhi brain abscess in an eleven-year-old boy who was operated for brain tumor and developed S. typhi brain abscess in the post-operative period. Key Words: Salmonella Typhi, Gram negative Rods, Brain abscess

Changes in the epidemiology of pediatric sinogenic and otogenic intracranial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-institution study.

Focal intracranial infections (epidural abscesses, subdural empyemas, and intraparenchymal abscesses) are uncommon complications of sinusitis and otitis media but can be associated with significant morbidity. Treatment typically requires neurosurgical and otolaryngological interventions in combination with antibiotic treatment. Historically, children have presented to the authors' pediatric referral center with sinusitis- or otitis media-related intracranial infections in low numbers. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the incidence of intracranial pyogenic complications has increased at this center. The objective of this study was to compare the epidemiology, severity, microbial causes, and management of pediatric sinusitis- and otitis-related intracranial infections in the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. All patients 21 years of age or younger who presented with an intracranial infection in the setting of sinusitis or otitis media and who underwent neurosurgical treatment at Connecticut Children's from January 2012 to December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were systematically collated, and variables before and during COVID-19 were compared statistically. Overall, 18 patients were treated for sinusitis-related (n = 16) or otitis media-related (n = 2) intracranial infections during the study period. Ten patients (56%) presented from January 2012 to February 2020, none from March 2020 to June 2021, and 8 (44%) from July 2021 to December 2022. There were no significant demographic differences between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 cohorts. The 10 patients in the pre-COVID-19 cohort underwent a total of 15 neurosurgical and 10 otolaryngological procedures, while the 8 patients in the COVID-19 cohort underwent a total of 12 neurosurgical and 10 otolaryngological procedures. Surgically obtained wound cultures yielded a variety of organisms; Streptococcus constellatus/S. anginosus/S. intermedius were more prevalent in the COVID-19 cohort (87.5% vs 0%, p < 0.001) as was Parvimonas micra (62.5% vs 0%, p = 0.007). At an institutional level, there has been an approximately threefold increase in cases of sinusitis- and otitis media-related intracranial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multicenter studies are needed to confirm this observation and to investigate whether the mechanisms of infection are related directly to SARS-CoV-2, changes in the respiratory flora, or delayed care. The next steps will include expansion of this study to other pediatric centers throughout the United States and Canada.

Intracranial Abscesses: An Institutional Study

Background: Brain abscess is defined as a focal intracranial infection that is initiated as an area of cerebritis and evolves into a collection of pus surrounded by a vascularized capsule. These are complications of head trauma, neurosurgical operations, meningitis, and otogenic, mastoid, and paranasal air sinus infections. Management involves both medical and surgical treatment. Surgical management includes either aspiration or excision of lesions larger than 2.5 cm in diameter, depending on brain location. However, literature on surgical treatment is replete with several procedures which, on their own, may not determine outcome. Aim: Aim is to study the epidemiology, management and outcome of various treatment modalities of brain abscess in our institute. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of demographic data as well as indications, treatment modalities, and outcomes of various surgical procedures for evacuation of intracranial abscesses in patients admitted to our Neuro-intensive care unit at R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India from January 2013 to June 2019. Results: We carried out 53 procedures in 43 (30 male and 13 female) patients with various intracranial abscesses. Most abscesses [16, i.e. 37%] occurred in the second decade and second most common in the first decade [15, i.e. 34%]. In infants 4 (9%) cases of intracranial abscesses were present. None of the infants had features of congenital heart disease. The predisposing factors were mostly otolaryngologic (15) or posttraumatic (8). Most commonly abscesses were located in frontal 13 (30%) followed by cerebellar 9 (21%). Burr hole evacuation was done in 74% of cases. 3 patients (7% of cases) died. Prognosis appears to worsen with ventriculitis, multiple abscesses especially in infants, and immunosuppression. Conclusion: In conclusion, brain abscess still continues to be a formidable challenge, with prognosis that dramatically improved over the last decades due to advances in brain imaging, neurosurgical techniques and better use of old and more recent antibacterial agents. Mortality is improved compared with historical series; however, long-term morbidity is significant particularly in the infant population. Further researches must be conducted to clarify specific aspects, such as anticonvulsant prophylaxis/therapy, and also for the improvement of microbiological diagnosis.

Paediatric focal intracranial suppurative infection: a UK single-centre retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPaediatric focal intracranial suppurative infections are uncommon but cause significant mortality and morbidity. There are no uniform guidelines regarding antibiotic treatment. This study reviewed management in a tertiary healthcare centre in the United Kingdom and considers suggestions for empirical treatment.MethodsA retrospective, single-centre cohort review of 95 children (< 18 years of age) with focal intracranial suppurative infection admitted between January 2001 and June 2016 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Microbiological profiles and empirical antibiotic regimens were analysed for coverage, administration and duration of use. Mortality and neurological morbidity were reviewed. Data was analysed using t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, independent-samples median tests, and χ2-tests where appropriate. P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsEstimated annual incidence was 8.79 per million. Age was bimodally distributed. Predisposing factors were identified in 90.5%, most commonly sinusitis (42.1%) and meningitis (23.2%). Sinusitis was associated with older children (p < 0.001) and meningitis with younger children (p < 0.001). The classic triad was present in 14.0%.43.8% of 114 isolates were Streptococcus spp., most commonly Streptococcus milleri group organisms. Twelve patients cultured anaerobes.Thirty one empirical antibiotic regimens were used, most often a third-generation cephalosporin plus metronidazole and amoxicillin (32.2%). 90.5% would have sufficient cover with a third generation cephalosporin plus metronidazole. 66.3% converted to oral antibiotics. Median total antibiotic treatment duration was 90 days (interquartile range, 60–115.50 days).Mortality was 3.2, 38.5% had short-term and 24.2% long-term neurological sequelae.ConclusionsPaediatric focal intracranial suppurative infection has a higher regional incidence than predicted from national estimates and still causes significant mortality and morbidity. We recommend a third-generation cephalosporin plus metronidazole as first-choice empirical treatment. In infants with negative anaerobic cultures metronidazole may be discontinued.

Intensive care resources required to care for critically ill children with focal intracranial infections.

The authors reviewed cases in which children with a focal infection inside the head (ex: a brain abscess) were cared for in their pediatric ICU to describe the frequency of complications and quantify the ICU resources needed (ex: breathing tube, blood pressure medications, and/or an intracranial pressure monitor). This information helps clarify illness severity and has identified complications that we should further investigate to improve care for these children.

Brain and Spinal Abscesses

Brain and spinal abscesses are focal infections of the central nervous system that are often associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not recognized early and managed in a timely manner. In patients with brain abscess, the clinical manifestations run the gamut from indolent to fulminant; most are related to the size and location of the space-occupying lesion within the brain and the virulence of the infecting organism. Untreated spinal epidural abscess usually progresses through four stages: backache and focal vertebral pain, nerve root pain, spinal cord dysfunction, and complete paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic neuroimaging procedure of choice in patients with brain and spinal abscesses; on diffusion-weighted images, restricted diffusion may be seen and may help distinguish abscesses from necrotic neoplasms. Aspiration of the abscess is important to facilitate microbiologic diagnosis; after aspiration and submission of specimens for special stains, histopathologic examination, and culture, empirical antimicrobial therapy should be initiated based on stains of the aspirated specimen and the probable pathogenesis of infection. Once the infecting pathogen is isolated, antimicrobial therapy can be modified for optimal treatment. Surgical therapy is often required for the optimal approach to patients with brain and spinal abscesses. This review contains 6 figures, 5 tables, and 72 references. Key words: antimicrobial therapy for central nervous system infections, brain abscess, epidural abscess, focal intracranial infections, head trauma, infections in immunocompromised hosts, spine infections, subdural empyema, toxoplasmosis

Brain and Spinal Abscesses

Brain and spinal abscesses are focal infections of the central nervous system that are often associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not recognized early and managed in a timely manner. In patients with brain abscess, the clinical manifestations run the gamut from indolent to fulminant; most are related to the size and location of the space-occupying lesion within the brain and the virulence of the infecting organism. Untreated spinal epidural abscess usually progresses through four stages: backache and focal vertebral pain, nerve root pain, spinal cord dysfunction, and complete paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic neuroimaging procedure of choice in patients with brain and spinal abscesses; on diffusion-weighted images, restricted diffusion may be seen and may help distinguish abscesses from necrotic neoplasms. Aspiration of the abscess is important to facilitate microbiologic diagnosis; after aspiration and submission of specimens for special stains, histopathologic examination, and culture, empirical antimicrobial therapy should be initiated based on stains of the aspirated specimen and the probable pathogenesis of infection. Once the infecting pathogen is isolated, antimicrobial therapy can be modified for optimal treatment. Surgical therapy is often required for the optimal approach to patients with brain and spinal abscesses. This review contains 6 figures, 5 tables, and 72 references. Key words: antimicrobial therapy for central nervous system infections, brain abscess, epidural abscess, focal intracranial infections, head trauma, infections in immunocompromised hosts, spine infections, subdural empyema, toxoplasmosis

Brain and Spinal Abscesses

Brain and spinal abscesses are focal infections of the central nervous system that are often associated with significant morbidity and mortality if not recognized early and managed in a timely manner. In patients with brain abscess, the clinical manifestations run the gamut from indolent to fulminant; most are related to the size and location of the space-occupying lesion within the brain and the virulence of the infecting organism. Untreated spinal epidural abscess usually progresses through four stages: backache and focal vertebral pain, nerve root pain, spinal cord dysfunction, and complete paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic neuroimaging procedure of choice in patients with brain and spinal abscesses; on diffusion-weighted images, restricted diffusion may be seen and may help distinguish abscesses from necrotic neoplasms. Aspiration of the abscess is important to facilitate microbiologic diagnosis; after aspiration and submission of specimens for special stains, histopathologic examination, and culture, empirical antimicrobial therapy should be initiated based on stains of the aspirated specimen and the probable pathogenesis of infection. Once the infecting pathogen is isolated, antimicrobial therapy can be modified for optimal treatment. Surgical therapy is often required for the optimal approach to patients with brain and spinal abscesses. This review contains 6 figures, 5 tables, and 72 references. Key words: antimicrobial therapy for central nervous system infections, brain abscess, epidural abscess, focal intracranial infections, head trauma, infections in immunocompromised hosts, spine infections, subdural empyema, toxoplasmosis

Brain abscess by Kocuria rosea : Case report and literature review

Brain abscess is one of the most serious complications of head and neck infections (Tunkel, 2010 [1]). Defined as a focal intracranial infection that is initiated as an area of cerebritis and evolves into a collection of pus surrounded by a vascularized capsule (Tunkel and Scheld, 2011 [2]). The infectious agents depend on the pathogenesis of the infection and the presence of various predisposing conditions, however, in general: Streptococcus sp. is the most frequent microorganism (Tunkel and Scheld, 2011 [2]: Greenberg, 2010 [3]). In this article we report a case of brain abscess caused by Kocuria rosea, an entity that has not been reported previously in literature.

Meningitis and subdural empyema caused by Salmonella typhi in infancy

Salmonella typhi is a Gram-negative, motile aerobic bacillus with non-encapsulated, non-sporulating rods from the Enterobacteriaceae family. Salmonella can localize in any organ or tissue. Focal intracranial infections caused by Salmonella species are uncommon manifestations of salmonellosis in developed countries and are often associated with diarrheal diseases and malnutrition. Salmonella meningitis is a serious disease that could lead to death and damage in infants. We report a case of a 4-month-old infant with meningitis and subdural empyema caused by Salmonella typhi . Management included treatment with neurosurgical drainage and a prolonged course of antibiotics.

Brain and Spinal Abscesses

Brain and spinal abscesses are often devastating infections that can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality if not recognized and treated in a timely manner. The clinical presentation depends upon the route of spread of infection to the central nervous system, location of the lesion, and severity of increased intracranial pressure. Brain abscess is defined as a focal intracranial infection that is initiated as an area of cerebritis and evolves into a collection of pus that is surrounded by a vascularized capsule; patients most often develop brain abscess by contiguous spread, hematogenous dissemination, or trauma. This chapter discusses the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and prognosis for brain abscess. Also examined are epidemiology and pathogenesis, etiology, diagnosis, management, and prognosis for both cranial subdural empyema and epidural abscess and spinal epidural abscess and subdural empyema. Tables list predisposing conditions and likely etiologic agents in brain abscess; histopathologic findings in the stages of brain abscess formation; presenting symptoms and signs in patients with brain abscess; antimicrobial therapy of brain abscess based on isolated pathogen; predisposing conditions and empirical antimicrobial therapy in patients with presumed bacterial brain abscess; recommended dosages of antimicrobial agents in adults with brain abscess; and normal renal and hepatic function. Figures in this chapter are images of intra-axial fluid collection; a subdural fluid collection; a ring-enhancing subdural empyema; an epidural abscess; a large epidural fluid collection with midline shift; a dorsal epidural collection; and loculated ring enhancement suggesting an epidural abscess. This chapter contains 6 highly rendered figures, 6 tables, 167 references, 5 MCQs.

Salmonellabrain abscess in a patient on chronic azathioprine therapy for myasthenia gravis: report of an unusual case and review of literature in the postantibiotic era

Focal intracranial infections caused by Salmonella species in adults are exceedingly uncommon. Structural brain injury with coexisting immunocompromised status appears to predispose adults to this rare manifestation of Salmonella infection. We report a case of Salmonella brain abscess in a patient with myasthenia gravis on chronic azathioprine therapy without any prior structural brain lesion. We reviewed world literature and discuss their analysis of Salmonella brain abscess in adult population in the postantibiotic era.

Meningitis with subdural empyema due to non-typhoid Salmonella in a 9-month-old girl

We report a case of a 9-month-old baby admitted to the hospital because of low-grade fever, focal seizures in a context of watery diarrhea for 14 days' duration. The patient workup revealed a mild neutrophilic pleocytosis on cerebrospinal fluid (46 cells/microl), a positive stool culture for Salmonella pomona sensitive to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, and a subdural empyema (SDE) on the cerebral MRI. The child received an intravenous third-generation cephalosporin for 4 weeks which resulted in cure. This case highlights an unusual extra-intestinal complication of non-typhoid salmonella infection. Involvement of the central nervous system with non-typhoidal salmonellosis is an important complication that can result in significant morbidity if not recognized and treated promptly. A focal intra-cranial infection must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any child presenting with focal seizures and gastroenteritis due to Salmonella. Appropriate diagnostic imaging of the head (cerebral CT scan with contrast and/or MRI) is mandatory to exclude the presence of an intra-cranial complication, even in the presence of negative CSF culture for Salmonella. Subfrontal and subtemporal SDE are sometimes missed on axial CT scans and better appreciated on MRI. Non-surgical treatment of small subdural empyemas with prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy is a therapeutic option.

Salmonella brain abscess in an infant

Brain abscess is an uncommon and serious life-threatening infection in children. Focal intracranial infections caused by Salmonella spp. in this age group are also rare. We report the case of a 4-month-old male infant with a frontoparietal brain abscess caused by Salmonella typhimurium, the presence of which was not suspected clinically.

Salmonella Infantis Subdural Empyema in a Healthy Infant.

Focal intracranial infections such as brain abscess, subdural empyema, or epidural abscess are unusual manifestations of salmonellosis found almost solely in immuno-compromised patients. We describe an unusual case of an 11-month old immuno-competent girl with a Salmonella Infantis subdural empyema. The case responded well to surgical drainage and long course of antibiotic treatment.

Multiple brain abscesses caused by Salmonella typhi: case report

BACKGROUND Focal intracranial infections caused by Salmonella species are uncommon. The authors report a case of multiple brain abscesses caused by Salmonella typhi. CASE DESCRIPTION A 2-month-old girl was admitted to the hospital because of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and poor feeding. Neurological examination revealed cervical hyperextension and absence of sucking and Moro reflexes. During the next 20 hours she developed complex partial seizures with secondary generalization and alternated irritability with drowsiness. Investigation showed hemoglobin 6.3 g/dl; white blood cell count of 19500/mm 3 with a marked shift to the left. The analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid revealed white cell count of 1695/mm 3, lymphocytes 61%, protein 300 mg/dl and glucose 6 mg/dl. The patient was treated for acute gastroenterocolitis, sepsis, and meningitis. Blood culture taken on the day of admission showed Gram-negative bacilli, later identified as S. typhi. Computed tomography scan demonstrated a lesion in the right parietal lobe compatible with a brain abscess. Follow-up computed tomography after 7 days showed several other lesions with the same features. Surgical drainage of the right parietal lesion was performed on the 13th day, through a burr hole. The patient was discharged 5 weeks after admission without neurological deficit. CONCLUSION Bacteremia, sepsis, and meningitis are relatively common in children with Salmonella infection but intracranial abscesses are very rare. Surgical drainage combined with prolonged antibiotic therapy (drug of choice: chloramphenicol) is the best treatment for Salmonella brain abscesses. The possibility of intracranial infection should be considered in patients with Salmonellosis and neurological dysfunction.

FOCAL INTRACRANIAL INFECTIONS

Focal intracranial infections are relatively rare, but the consequences of a missed or delayed diagnosis are significant. The clinician is urged to consider these diagnoses in patients with headaches or focal neurologic examinations, particularly in the setting of known or suspected otorhinologic disease. For diagnosis, gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging or MR imaging with angiography are the procedures of choice; CT is far less sensitive and specific. Lumbar puncture is contraindicated in most of these infections. Management of suspected elevation of intracranial pressure and broad empiric antibiotic therapy should be instituted emergently. Early involvement of surgical services is recommended.

Management of focal intracranial infections: is medical treatment better than surgery?

Three groups of patients with single hemispheric brain abscesses or subdural empyemas, from 1 to 5 cm large, with similar initial prognosis, have been treated either by medical treatment alone (20), aspiration (21), or excision (15). Differences in survival were not found, but medical treatment alone was better for long term sequelae. Surgical procedures (either aspiration or excision) were better for both isolation of the organism and the hospital stay before discharge. In spite of good results, it is unwise to conclude too strongly in favour of no surgical treatment as this study was not randomised.

Abscess caused by Salmonella enteritidis within a glioblastoma multiforme

Focal intracranial infections due to Salmonella species are rare. We report a case of brain abscess caused by Salmonella enteritidis within a glioblastoma multiforme.