II. Epidemiology

  1. Peak Incidence in children: Ages 4 to 7 years old

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Frontal, temporal, and Parietal Lobes are most commonly affected

IV. Causes: Source

  1. Unknown primary source of abscess in 20-40% of cases
  2. Direct Spread
    1. Subdural Abscess (Subdural Empyema) is spread of Sinusitis or Mastoiditis in 60-90% of cases
      1. Mastoiditis (due to Chronic Otitis Media)
      2. Frontal Sinusitis or Ethmoid Sinusitis
        1. Most common in children who have highly vascular sinuses
      3. Dental Infection
    2. Retained Foreign Body such as bullet fragments (abscess development may be years later)
    3. Neurosurgery (abscess development may be >1 year later)
    4. Epidural Abscess (rare)
      1. Skull Osteomyelitis
      2. Orbital Cellulitis
      3. Acute Sinusitis
      4. Otitis Media
  3. Hematogenous spread
    1. Lung Abscess or empyema in host with chronic lung disease (e.g. Cystic Fibrosis, Bronchiectasis)
    2. Esophageal procedures (e.g. esophageal dilation, Varices management)
    3. Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease
    4. Bacterial Endocarditis
    5. Pulmonary AV Malformation with right to left shunt
    6. Skin Infections
    7. Intraabdominal and pelvic infections
    8. Dental Infection

V. Causes: Organisms

  1. Strepotococcus esp. viridans (60-70%), as well as Pneumococcus
  2. Staphylococcus, esp. Staphylococcus Aureus (10-14%)
  3. Other source site-specific organisms (in addition to Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species)
    1. Actinomyces (lung)
    2. Bacteroides (sinus, dental, ear) in up to 20-40% of cases
    3. Clostridium (penetrating Head Trauma)
    4. Enterobacteriaciae, Gram Negative Rods (ear) in up to 25-33% of cases
    5. Enterobacter (urine, penetrating Head Trauma, neurosurgery)
    6. Fusobacterium (sinus, dental, lung)
    7. HaemophilusInfluenzae (sinus, dental)
    8. Pseudomonas (ear, urine, neurosurgery)
  4. Immunocompromised patients
    1. See Brain Lesion in HIV
    2. Aspergillus
    3. Coccidioides
    4. Cryptococcus
    5. Listeria
    6. Nocardia
    7. Toxoplasma gondii
    8. Other fungus (e.g. Candida)
  5. Immigrants
    1. Cysticercosis (most common)
    2. Entamoeba histolytica
    3. Schistosoma

VI. Symptoms

  1. Often initially subacute (results in delayed diagnosis typically >1 week)
    1. However, Subdural Empyema may rapidly progress
  2. Headache (69%), typically unilateral in the region of abscess
  3. Neck Stiffness (15%), associated with posterior abscess (e.g. occiput)
  4. Vomiting (suggests Increased Intracranial Pressure)

VII. Signs

  1. Fever (45%)
  2. Focal neurologic deficit (50%)
    1. Often a delayed finding (>1 week after Headache onset)
    2. Oculomotor findings (CN 3 or CN 6) suggests Increased Intracranial Pressure
  3. Seizure (25%)
  4. Altered Level of Consciousness (associated with significant brain edema and with worse prognosis)

VIII. Imaging

  1. CT Head with contrast OR
  2. MRI Brain with gadolinium (preferred)

IX. Differential Diagnosis

X. Diagnostics

  1. Lumbar Puncture
    1. Contraindicated in focal symptoms/signs, CNS mass, Increased Intracranial Pressure (risk of Herniation)
    2. Obtain CNS imaging prior to Lumbar Puncture

XI. Labs

  1. Serology
    1. Blood anti-Toxoplasma IgG
    2. CSF anti-cysticercal Antibody
  2. CT-guided or neurosurgery obtained fluid
    1. Gram Stain
    2. Acid-fast stain and modified acid fast (Mycobacteria, Nocardia)
    3. Fungal stains
    4. Aeorbic and Anaerobic Bacterial cultures
    5. Mycobacterial culture
    6. Fungal Culture

XII. Management

  1. See Toxoplasmosis
  2. Bacterial cause (initial empiric therapy, including for Subdural Empyema)
    1. Overall Antibiotic course of 4-6 weeks is typical
    2. Cefotaxime 2 g IV q4 hours OR Ceftriaxone 2 g IV every 12 hours (or Pen G 3-4 MU q4h) AND
    3. Metronidazole 7.5 mg/kg every 6 hours
    4. Add Vancomycin for suspected Staphylococcus Aureus
  3. Nocardia initial empiric therapy
    1. Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (or Linezolid 500 mg IV or oral every 12 hours) AND
    2. Imipenem 500 mg IV every 6 hours (or Meropenem 2 g IV every 8 hours)
    3. Add Amikacin 7.5 mg/kg every 12 hours, if multiorgan involvement
  4. Post-Trauma or Post-Surgical
    1. Vancomycin 15-20 mg/kg every 8-12 hours (or Linzeolid 600 mg q12h) AND
    2. Cefepime 2 g IV every 8 hours (or Meropenem 2 g IV every 8 hours)

XIII. References

  1. (2016) Sanford Guide, accessed 4/9/2016
  2. Southwick in Calderwood (2016) UpToDate, accessed 4/9/2016
  3. Brouwer (2014) N Engl J Med 371:447 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Brain Abscess (C0006105)

Definition (MSH) A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate in the brain, due to bacterial and other infections. The majority are caused by spread of infected material from a focus of suppuration elsewhere in the body, notably the PARANASAL SINUSES, middle ear (see EAR, MIDDLE); HEART (see also ENDOCARDITIS, BACTERIAL), and LUNG. Penetrating CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES may also be associated with this condition. Clinical manifestations include HEADACHE; SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits; and alterations of consciousness. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp712-6)
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D001922
SnomedCT 441806004, 60404007, 192738001
English Brain Abscesses, Abscess, Brain, BRAIN ABSCESS, brain abscess, brain abscess (diagnosis), Brain abscess NOS, Abscess of brain (disorder), Abscess of brain, Brain Abscess [Disease/Finding], brain abscesses, cerebral abscess, abscess brain, abscess cerebral, Brain Abscess, Brain abscess, Brain--Abscess, brain; abscess, abscess; brain
Italian Ascesso cerebrale, Ascesso cerebrale NAS, Ascesso del cervello
Dutch hersenabces NAO, abces; hersenen, hersenen; abces, hersenabces, Abces, hersen-, Hersenabces
French Abcès cérébral SAI, Abcès du cerveau, Abcès cérébral, Abcès cérébraux
German Gehirnabszess NNB, Gehirnabszess, Hirnabszeß
Portuguese Abcesso cerebral NE, Abscesso Encefálico, Abscesso Cerebral, Abcesso do cérebro
Spanish Absceso cerebral NEOM, Absceso Encefálico, absceso de cerebro (trastorno), absceso de cerebro, Absceso Cerebral, Absceso cerebral
Japanese 脳膿瘍NOS, ノウノウヨウNOS, ノウノウヨウ, 脳膿瘍, 膿瘍-脳
Swedish Hjärnabscess
Czech mozek - absces, Absces mozku, Absces mozku NOS
Finnish Aivopaise
Russian MOZGA GOLOVNOGO ABSTSESS, ABSTSESS GOLOVNOGO MOZGA, АБСЦЕСС ГОЛОВНОГО МОЗГА, МОЗГА ГОЛОВНОГО АБСЦЕСС
Croatian MOŽDANI APSCES
Polish Ropień mózgu
Hungarian agytályog k.m.n., agytályog
Norwegian Hjerneabscess

Ontology: Intracranial abscess (C0021874)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
ICD9 324.0
SnomedCT 192746000, 192738001, 27614006
English Intracranial abscess NOS, intracranial abscess (diagnosis), intracranial abscess, Intracranial abscess NOS (disorder), Intracranial abscess, Intracranial abscess (disorder), abscess; intracranial, intracranial; abscess, Intracranial abscess, NOS, Intracranial Abscess
Dutch intracraniaal abces, abces; intracraniaal, intracraniaal; abces
French Abcès intracrânien
German intrakranieller Abszess
Italian Ascesso intracranico
Portuguese Abcesso intracraniano
Spanish Absceso intracraneal, absceso intracraneal, SAI (trastorno), absceso intracraneal, SAI, absceso intracraneal (trastorno), absceso intracraneal
Japanese 頭蓋内膿瘍, トウガイナイノウヨウ
Czech Intrakraniální absces
Hungarian Intracranialis abscessus

Ontology: Intracranial and intraspinal abscesses (C0154660)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
ICD9 324.9, 324
SnomedCT 192751006, 155050004, 192737006
English Intracranial and intraspinal abscess, Intracranial / spinal abscess, Intracranial / spinal absc.NOS, Intracranial or intraspinal abscess NOS, Abscess central nervous system NOS, CNS abscess NOS, Cns abscess NOS, Central nervous system abscesses, Intracranial or intraspinal abscess NOS (disorder), Central nervous system abscess, Intracranial and intraspinal abscesses, CNS abscess, Intracranial and intraspinal abscesses (disorder), Intracranial and intraspinal abscess of unspecified site, Central nervous system abscess NOS
Italian Ascessi del sistema nervoso centrale, Ascesso del sistema nervoso centrale, Ascesso intracranico ed intrarachideo, Ascesso intracranico ed intrarachideo di sede non specificata, Ascesso del sistema nervoso centrale NAS, Ascesso NAS del sistema nervoso centrale
Dutch centraal zenuwstelselabces NAO, abces centraal zenuwstelsel NAO, intracraniaal en intraspinaal abces op niet-gespecificeerde plaats, intracraniaal en intraspinaal abces, centraal zenuwstelsel abcessen, centraal zenuwstelselabces
French Abcès intracrânien et intrarachidien, Abcès du système nerveux central SAI, Abcès intracrânien et intrarachidien de site non précisé, Abcès du système nerveux central, Nombre d'abcès du système nerveux central
German intrakranialer und intraspinaler Abszess unspezifischer Stelle, intrakranialer und intraspinaler Abszess, Abszess des Zentralnervensystems NNB, Abszess des ZNS NNB, Abszess im Zentralnervensystem, Abszesse des Zentralnervensystems
Portuguese Abcesso NE do SNC, Abcesso intracraniano e intraspinhal, Abcesso do SNC NE, Abcesso intracraniano e intraspinhal de localização NE, Abcessos do sistema nervoso central, Abcesso do SNC
Spanish Absceso intracraneal e intraespinal, Absceso del SNC NEOM, Absceso del sistema nervioso central NEOM, Absceso intracraneal e intraespinal de localización no especificada, absceso intracraneal o intrarraquídeo, SAI, absceso intracraneal o intrarraquídeo, SAI (trastorno), absceso intracraneal e intrarraquídeo, SAI (trastorno), absceso intracraneal e intrarraquídeo, SAI, abscesos intracraneal e intramedular (trastorno), abscesos intracraneal e intramedular, Abscesos del sistema nervioso central, Absceso en sistema nervioso central
Japanese 中枢神経系膿瘍, 中枢神経系膿瘍NOS, チュウスウシンケイケイノウヨウNOS, チュウスウシンケイケイシュヨウ, チュウスウシンケイケイノウヨウ
Czech Absces CNS, NOS, Absces centrálního nervového systému NOS, Intrakraniální a intraspinální absces blíže neurčené části CNS, Abscesy centrálního nervového systému, Absces centrálního nervového systému, Intrakraniální a intraspinální absces
Hungarian Központi idegrendszer abscessusok, Intracranialis és intraspinalis abscessus, Nem meghatározott elhelyezkedésű intracranialis és intraspinalis abscessus, KIR abscessus k.m.n., központi idegrendszeri tályog, Központi idegrendszeri tályog k.m.n.

Ontology: Cerebral abscess (C1510428)

Definition (NCI) A bacterial, fungal, or parasitic abscess that develops in the cerebral hemispheres. Causes include skull trauma, middle ear infection, congenital heart disease, and frontal and ethmoid sinus infection.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D001922
SnomedCT 192739009, 60404007
English Abscess, Cerebral, Abscesses, Cerebral, Cerebral Abscesses, Parenchymal intracran absc, Cerebral intracranial abscess, Abscess;cerebral, Cerebral abscess, Brain Abscess, Cerebral intracranial abscess (disorder), Parenchymal intracranial abscess, Cerebral abscess (disorder), cerebral; abscess, abscess; cerebral, Cerebral Abscess, Abscess, cerebral, cerebral abscess
French Abcès intracérébral, Abcès intracérébraux
German Zerebraler Abszeß, Abszeß, zerebraler
Spanish absceso parenquimatoso intracraneal, absceso de cerebro, absceso cerebral intracraneal, absceso cerebral intracraneal (trastorno), absceso cerebral (trastorno), absceso cerebral
Italian Ascesso cerebrale
Norwegian Cerebral abscess
Dutch abces; cerebraal, cerebraal; abces