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Management of Brain Abscess

Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland

Avindra Nath, MD

Division of Neuroimmunology and Neurological Infections, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, anath1{at}jhmi.edu

Despite recent advances in neuroimaging techniques, brain abscesses can be difficult to diagnose and may often require surgical intervention. The primary sources of infection are often difficult to locate; hence, even if an abscess is suspected, the organisms may remain unknown. In other patients, the location of the lesion may be in a site of the brain where surgical intervention may not be possible. The types of brain abscesses, their pathophysiology including predisposing conditions, and their characteristic radiologic features are discussed in this review, with particular emphasis on the indications and modes of medical management of brain abscesses. It discusses the use of antimicrobial agents that have the best central nervous system penetration and outlines a strategy for treatment of organisms likely to infect the brain with the different types of predisposing conditions. Also discussed are the indications for empirical therapy, and antimicrobial regimens for this purpose are suggested.

Key Words: Brain • abscess • antibiotics • treatment • magnetic resonance imaging • diffusion-weighted images • positron emission tomography.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 20, No. 2, 158-166 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0897190007305146


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