Authors: Amr Zakaria Sherif Elwatidy Essam Elgamal
Publish Date: 2008/09/05
Volume: 150, Issue: 10, Pages: 1097-1101
Abstract
Nocardia brain abscess is a rare central nervous system CNS infection that carries a high mortality rate reaching 34 which is considered the highest amongst brain abscesses caused by microorganisms All available literature is in the form of retrospective studies and small case series In this case report the authors present a patient whose course of disease was stormy and required multiple neurosurgical procedures The clinical outcome longterm follow up and a review of the literature is discussedThis is a single case report of a patient with a cerebral Nocardia abscess complicated by ventriculitis The infection was treated by antibiotics and aspiration of the abscess Aggressive treatment of brain swelling and subsequent hydrocephalus lead to recovery The report illustrates some of the hazards of this serious infection occurring most often in immunocompromised patients and the steps to successful treatmentThis is a detailed article on Nocardia brain abscess which covers the subject almost fully However the primordial question that may be asked is “Had the surgeon operated on the patient primarily and removed the abscess without rupturing it rather than aspirating it would that have averted all the complications that ensued” In fact the patient was later subjected to a more serious surgery while he was in a much more critical situation The authors should be commended on their accurate discussion
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