Brain abscess medical therapy: Difference between revisions

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==Antimicrobial Therapy – Pathogen-Based Therapy==
==Antimicrobial Therapy – Pathogen-Based Therapy==
===Bacteria===
{{rx|Actinomyces}}
{{rx|Actinomyces}}
* [[Penicillin G]] 24 MU q4h
* [[Penicillin G]] 24 MU q4h
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* [[Penicillin G]] 24 MU q4h
* [[Penicillin G]] 24 MU q4h
</li>
</li>
===Fungi===
{{rx|Aspergillus}}
{{rx|Aspergillus}}
* [[Voriconazole]] 8 mg/kg/day q12h
* [[Voriconazole]] 8 mg/kg/day q12h
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* [[Voriconazole]] 8 mg/kg/day q12h
* [[Voriconazole]] 8 mg/kg/day q12h
</li>
</li>
===Protozoa===
{{rx|Toxoplasma gondii}}
{{rx|Toxoplasma gondii}}
* [[Sulfadiazine]] 4–6 g/day q6h {{and}}   
* [[Sulfadiazine]] 4–6 g/day q6h {{and}}   

Revision as of 05:46, 19 April 2015

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sheng Shi, M.D. [2]

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Overview

Treatment of brain abscess requires a multidisciplinary approach to lower intracranial pressure, delineate extent of infection, evacuate purulent materials, administer appropriate antibiotics, and obtain tissue specimens.

Treatment

Initial treatment includes lowering the intracranial pressure and administering empiric antibiotics. Stereotactic needle biopsy can be performed to obtain tissues for cultures.

A brain abscess greater than 3 cm in diameter should be considered for surgical drainage if accessible, with an exception of tuberculous brain abscess which is treated with anti-tuberculous agents.

  • Antibiotics: Brain abscesses are usually polymicrobial, with the most common bugs being microaerophilic streptococci (viridans) and anaerobic bacteria (bacteroides, anaerobic strep and fusobacterium).
  • Even if the abscess is associated with a dental procedure and other organisms are considered (actinomyces sp.) they generally respond to the above Rx.
  • If extending from an otitis, empiric Rx should also cover pseudomonas and enterobacteriacaea.
  • If hematogenously spread, coverage depends on the original bug.
  • The penetration of abx into an abscess does not necessarily equate with their penetration into the CSF (the blood-brain barrier is not the same as the blood-CSF barrier).
  • Drugs like vancomycin, which have poor CSF levels (<10% of serum) have been shown to have good abscess levels (90% of serum).
  • Most patients are treated parenterally for at least 8w.
  • Some authors also recommend an additional 2 – 3 month course of oral abx to clear up any ‘residual’ infection and to prevent relapses.
  • One study actually suggests that, when combined with surgical excision, 3w may be adequate.
  • Other studies have reported good outcomes with abx alone in patients with small lesions (<2cm), in well vascularized areas (cortex), who were poor surgical candidates.
  • There have not been any studies reporting benefit from intra-thecal or intra-abscess abx.
  • There seems to be consensus on obtaining q 2 – 4w f/u CT/MRI scans to document resolution.

Adjuvants

  • Although steroids have not been studies in well-designed trials, many authors use them in patients with elevated ICP.
  • Some animal studies suggest interference with granulation tissue formation and bacterial clearance.
  • Anticonvulsants are recommended prophylactically for the 1st 3m, though the data supporting this is lacking.[1]

Antimicrobial Therapy – Empiric Therapy

Brain Abscess in Otherwise Healthy Patients

  • Brain Abscess with Comorbidities

  • Antimicrobial Therapy – Pathogen-Based Therapy

    Bacteria

  • Fungi

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  • References

    1. Mandell, Gerald L.; Bennett, John E. (John Eugene); Dolin, Raphael. (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious disease. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 0-443-06839-9.