A brain abscess is a collection of pus, immune cells, and other material in the brain, caused by a bacterial or fungal infection.
Abscess - brain; Cerebral abscess; CNS abscess
Brain abscesses commonly occur when bacteria or fungi infect part of the brain. As a result, swelling and irritation (inflammation) develop. Infected brain cells, white blood cells, live and dead bacteria or fungi collect in an area of the brain. Tissue forms around this area and creates a mass or abscess.
The germs that cause a brain abscess can reach the brain through the blood. Or, they enter the brain directly, such as during brain surgery. In some cases, a brain abscess develops from an infection in the sinuses.
The source of the infection is often not found. However, the most common source is a lung infection. Less often, a heart infection is the cause.
The following raise your chance of developing a brain abscess:
Symptoms may develop slowly, over a period of several weeks, or they may develop suddenly. They may include:
A brain abscess is a medical emergency. Pressure inside the skull may become high enough to be life threatening. You will need to stay in the hospital until the condition is stable. Some people may need life support.
Medicine, not surgery, is recommended if you have:
You may be prescribed several different types of antibiotics to make sure treatment works.
Antifungal medicines may also be prescribed if the infection is likely caused by a fungus.
Surgery is needed if:
Surgery consists of opening the skull, exposing the brain, and draining the abscess. Laboratory tests are often done to examine the fluid. This helps identify the cause of the infection, so that the right antibiotics or antifungal medicine can be prescribed.
Needle aspiration guided by CT or MRI scan may be needed for a deep abscess. During this procedure, medicines may be injected directly into the mass.
Certain diuretics (medicines that reduce fluid in the body, also called water pills) and steroids may also be used to reduce the swelling of the brain.
Jacob Bodilsen practices in Aalborg, Denmark. Bodilsen is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Brain Abscess. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Brain Abscess, Bacterial Meningitis, Meningitis, and Herpes Simplex Encephalitis.
Matthijs Brouwer practices in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Brouwer is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Brain Abscess. He is also highly rated in 20 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Bacterial Meningitis, Meningitis, Brain Abscess, and Pneumococcal Meningitis.
Diederik Van De Beek practices in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Van De Beek is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Brain Abscess. They are also highly rated in 24 other conditions, according to our data. Their top areas of expertise are Bacterial Meningitis, Meningitis, Pneumococcal Meningitis, Heart Transplant, and Bone Marrow Transplant.
If untreated, a brain abscess is almost always deadly. With treatment, the death rate is about 10% to 30%. The earlier treatment is received, the better.
Some people may have long-term nervous system problems after surgery.
Complications may include:
Go to a hospital emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have symptoms of a brain abscess.
You can reduce the risk of developing a brain abscess by getting treated for infections or health problems that can cause them.
Some people, including those with certain heart disorders, may receive antibiotics before dental or other procedures to help reduce the risk of infection.
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infects over one third of the global human population. Cerebral toxoplasmosis is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV patients resulting in up to 50% of mortality with proper treatment and 80% without it. The fatality mainly due to the brain edema resulted from the mass effect lesion. In addition of anti toxoplasmosis given, adjunctive therapy such as steroid is recomme...
Summary: The investigators aim to determine if oral antibiotics are clinically acceptable as treatment of brain abscess. Following 2 weeks of standard intravenous antibiotic therapy, half of patients will continue with this treatment for another 4 weeks or longer while the other half will be assigned to oral antibiotics for the remaining duration of treatment.
Published Date: December 24, 2020
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Gea-Banacloche JC, Tunkel AR. Brain abscess. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 90.
Nath A, Berger JR. Brain abscess and parameningeal infections. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 385.