title: Predictors of mortality in brain abscess.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Brain abscess carries significant morbidity and mortality. Our objective was to elucidate the clinical presentation of brain abscess and to assess predictors of mortality in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with a brain abscess presenting to the Aga Khan University Hospital, a tertiary care referral center in Karachi, Pakistan, were studied retrospectively. Statistical analysis involved univariate analysis and a logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 66 patients analyzed, a distant metastatic focus of infection was the most commonly identified predisposing factor (29%). Otogenic infection was the commonest contiguous source and sinusitis was noticeably absent. Multiple abscesses were frequent (35%). Streptococci were the most common isolates (39%). Lumbar puncture was performed in 44% and steroids administered in 33%. Treatment was surgical in 58%. Most comatose patients were treated conservatively. Overall mortality was 29%. Univariate analysis identified comatose presentation and identification of a distant focus of infection as predictors of mortality. The logistic regression model, however, identified a distant focus of infection as the only independent predictor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age greater than 30 years, corticosteroid use, multiple abscesses, performance of lumbar puncture and conservative management had no affect on outcome.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Habib
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mozaffar
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sarwari
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed