A case series of brain abscesses: an eleven-year retrospective single center study

Rami Waked; Hassan Tarhini; Hussein Mansour; Gebrael Saliba; Nabil Chehata; Marie Chedid; Elie Haddad; Jacques Choucair

doi:10.3855/jidc.12816

A case series of brain abscesses: an eleven-year retrospective single center study

Authors

Rami Waked Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Hassan Tarhini Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Hussein Mansour Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Gebrael Saliba Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Nabil Chehata Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Marie Chedid Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Elie Haddad Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon
Jacques Choucair Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12816

Keywords:

Brain abscess, Stereotactic biopsy, HIV, Antibiotics, patient prognosis

Abstract

Introduction: We lack data on the epidemiology and management of brain abscesses in the Middle East. The aim of this study is to report a case series of brain abscesses admitted at a tertiary care center in Lebanon, between January 2008 and December 2018.

Methodology: This retrospective study aimed at determining the demographic data, treatment, and correlations between different studied variables with prognosis of patients that received treatment.

Results: Forty-one patients (30 males) were included with a median age of 37 years (2-85). The analysis showed that the classic triad of fever, headache and neurologic deficit was only present in 12% of patients on admission. The source of infection was contiguous in 36.5%, post surgical in 32%, and distant in 17% of cases. Stereotactic biopsy was performed in 41.5% of patients, and craniotomy in 19.5%. A microorganism was isolated in 63% of patients (26 cases). The most used antibiotics were carbapenems (46%) and glycopeptides (66%). Eighty percent of patient (33) had a good outcome. A worse prognosis was significantly correlated with immunosuppression and multiple cerebral abscesses.

Conclusions: Brain abscess remains a relatively rare condition.

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Published

2021-06-30

How to Cite

Waked R, Tarhini H, Mansour H, Saliba G, Chehata N, Chedid M, Haddad E, Choucair J (2021) A case series of brain abscesses: an eleven-year retrospective single center study. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:791–797. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12816

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Issue

Vol. 15 No. 06: June 2021

Section

Original Articles

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