title: Management of brain abscesses with sequential intravenous/oral antibiotic therapy.
abstract: Eight patients with brain abscesses who refused prolonged hospitalisation were treated with a short course (6-12 days) of intravenous antibiotics followed by prolonged treatment (15-19 weeks) with an oral antibiotic regimen consisting of metronidazole, ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin. All patients responded favourably as shown clinically and in imaging studies. No severe adverse events or sequelae were noted. On admission all patients had a normal or mildly impaired mental status, abscesses less than 3 cm in diameter and no serious predisposing factors. Although combined surgical/medical treatment remains the standard approach in management of these patients, the findings suggest that oral antibiotic therapy only subsequent to a short course of intravenous antibiotics may be an acceptable alternative in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Patras University Medical School, University Hospital, Rio Patra, Greece.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Skoutelis
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gogos
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Maraziotis
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Bassaris
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D000658:Amoxicillin