title: [Brain abscesses after extracranial infections of the head and neck area].
abstract: The authors report on 20 immunocompetent patients with brain abscess after 12 cases of middle ear, seven tooth and a single frontal sinus infection. The clinical aspects, hematochemical and microbiological data, the role of imaging diagnostics (CT, MR) and the type of treatment are analysed. Neurosurgery was performed on 17 patients (85%), eight of whom subsequently underwent evacuation of the primary source of infection (four mastoidectomies, two timpanoplasties, two tooth extractions). Mastoidectomy was eventually carried out on one of the three patients who did not undergo neurosurgery. Microbiological diagnosis was possible in nine patients through culture examination: Proteus mirabilis in three cases, Peptostreptococcus sp. in two, Micrococcus varians, Proteus vulgaris, Streptococcus sanguis and Streptococcus viridans not typed in single cases. The pus was sterile in eight patients (47.1% of those operated). An association of two antimicrobial agents was used in 18 patients, while in two cases monotherapy was preferred, based on the isolated bacteria. Treatment lasted on average 38 days. The most frequently used therapy regimen (75%) was the association of a beta-lactam drug with chloramphenicol or metronidazole. Therapy was successful in 19/20 patients; one patient died. There was no significant difference in prognostic terms with regard to sex, age, duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis, clinical picture at onset, number and size of abscesses or type of treatment. Recognising the first clinical signs and symptoms (headache, fever, alterations in consciousness, focal neurological deficit, epileptic seizures) is extremely important for prompt diagnosis of brain abscess.
authors.affiliation: Regionalkrankenhaus Treviso, HNO-Klinik-Universität Padua, Italien.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchiori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tonon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boscolo Rizzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaglia
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Meyding-Lamadé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levorato
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Da Mosto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015522:Frontal Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D002701:Chloramphenicol