Antibiotics for brain abscesses in people with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
BACKGROUND
Brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection that begins as a localized area of brain infection and develops into a collection of pus surrounded by a well-vascularized capsule. People with cyanotic congenital heart disease are at risk of developing brain abscess.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic regimens for treating brain abscess in people with cyanotic congenital heart disease.


METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 2, MEDLINE (January 1966 to June 2006), EMBASE (January 1998 to June 2006), and LILACS (accessed in June 2006). No language or publication restrictions were used.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trials that reported clinically meaningful outcomes and presented results on an intention to treat basis, irrespective of blinding, publication status, or language.


METHODS
Data were to be extracted, unblinded, by the two reviewers independently. The search identified 489 articles of which 152 were articles on brain abscess. Most of the articles were case series and case reports.


RESULTS
No studies that met the inclusion criteria were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
There are no randomized controlled trials about the effectiveness of antibiotic regimens for treating people with cyanotic congenital heart disease who developed a brain abscess. Currently, the antibiotic regimens used are based on previous retrospective studies and clinical experience. There is a need for a well designed multicentre randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of different antibiotic regimens.
Lumbiganon
P
P
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Khon Kaen Univeristy, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 40002. paglum@kku.ac.th
Chaikitpinyo
A
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000150:complications; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents