title: Nontraumatic nasal septal abscesses in the immunocompromised: etiology, recognition, treatment, and sequelae.
abstract: Proper management of a nasal septal abscess requires prompt diagnosis, adequate surgical drainage, and antibiotics to prevent the potentially dangerous spread of infection and the development of severe functional and cosmetic sequelae. Most septal abscesses are the result of trauma to the nose with septal hematoma and subsequent infection. We present our experience with nasal septal abscesses in five immunocompromised patients without history of nasal trauma. All patients were treated with surgical drainage and antibiotics. The infections in four patients resolved, whereas in the fifth, the infection led to death. We report these cases to depict alternate etiologies of nasal septal abscess, particularly in the immunocompromised patient. Our review illustrates the wide spectrum of disease presentation, provides treatment strategies, and emphasizes the potentially catastrophic sequelae of this disease when unrecognized. With the growing number of immunocompromised individuals, it is important to recognize the potential for immunocompromise to influence the development of septal abscess.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco 94143, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Murr
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000473:pathology*; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; D011541:Pseudallescheria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents