title: Mucor cerebral abscess associated with intravenous drug abuse.
abstract: We report on a case of a 26-year-old intravenous narcotic abuser with a primary cerebral mucormycotic abscess caused by Rhizopus oryzae. He was treated with a combination of intravenous and intraventricular amphotericin B and surgical drainage with a successful outcome. There was no evidence that his infection was acquired by the rhinocerebral route, it seems likely that he injected himself with a contaminated batch of narcotic or amphetamine. Mucormycosis presenting in this way has been described previously but this is only the second such case to survive. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential for a favourable outcome in this condition.
authors.affiliation: Mater Misericordiae Adult Hospital, Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Seneviratne
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: McCormack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B