Unsuspected polymicrobial brain abscess arising from an intra-abdominal source in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.
The unusual and unprecedented occurrence of a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and a polymicrobial abscess with three different organisms, including fungi, is reported. The patient was a 48-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and HHT who was brought to the hospital after a motor vehicle accident with altered mental status. Computed tomography did not reveal evidence of acute brain injury but showed a left frontal brain abscess. The patient underwent neurosurgical drainage of the abscess. On culture the abscess yielded methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus intermedius, and Candida guilliermondii.
Diaz
Melina
M
Section of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912-3130, USA. diaz@medexassociate.com
Cuellar
Jose
J
Valencia-Rey
Paula A
PA
Fisher
John F
JF
D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002175:Candida; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D034367:Streptococcus intermedius; D013683:Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology