Retrospective analysis of 49 cases of brain abscess and review of the literature

The case records of 49 patients discharged from St George’s Hospital, London, between December 2000 and March 2004 with the diagnosis of brain abscess were reviewed in order to document the epidemiology, causes, treatment, and prognostic factors associated with brain abscess. Brain abscess occurred at all ages, more frequently in men than in women. Headache and altered mental status were common presenting symptoms. The frontal lobe was the most common site. Streptococcal infection was seen most commonly, but staphylococcal infection predominated in cases following neurosurgery. Computed tomography provided sufficient diagnostic information in most cases. All but five patients had early surgical drainage. Cefotaxime and metronidazole were used most often for empirical therapy. Thirty-nine patients recovered fully or had minimal incapacity. Five patients died. Patients with underlying cranial neoplasms or medical conditions had a worse outcome than those with a contiguous focus of infection or post-traumatic abscess. Changes in disease pattern were determined by comparison to a literature review. A PubMed search of the literature using the keywords “brain abscess” was undertaken, and identified papers and relevant citations were reviewed. Compared to earlier series, there was a marked decrease in the number of cases of brain abscess secondary to otitis media and congenital heart disease. There was an increase in the number of cases of brain abscess secondary to neurosurgery and trauma. Changes in the epidemiology of predisposing conditions for brain abscess are associated with changes in the patient population and causative organisms. Though still a potentially fatal infection, there have been recent improvements in diagnosis, treatment, and outcome.