Brain abscess - diagnosis and management

Objective: To evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and sources of infection, surgical management outcome and microorganisms involved in the brain abscess in our locality. Subjects and Methods: All patients who were confirmed cases of brain abscess were entered into the study. Data collected on proforma, contained categories of age, gender, clinical presentation, diagnostic laboratory findings, computed tomography scans reports, associated anomalies, surgical management, culture reports antibiotic therapy, microbiologic features and treatment out come. Results: Out of 82 patients, 58 were males and 24 females. Mean age was 18 years (range 05 months to 55 years). Headache with papilloedema was the commonest presentation (82%). Neurological deficit was present in 46%. A source of infection was present in 89%. Otogenic source was the commonest (63%). CT scan was diagnostic in all (100%) cases. Solitary abscess was found in 79% of the cases while in 21 % of the cases multiple abscesses were found. Temporal lobe he commonest site involved (55%). Cultures were found positive for microorganism in 82% of the cases. Bactericides (38%) and Streptococci (25%) were the commonest isolates. Burr hole aspiration was done in only 38% of the cases while excision of the capsule along with aspiration was carried out in 62% of the cases. Over all morality was 22% in this series; causes of death were septicemia, ventriculitis and pneumonia. Conclusion: Diagnosis with CT scan, appropriate antibiotic therapy and complete removal of abscess along with excision capsule could reduce the mortality and neurological deficits from brain abscess. (author)