Bacteriology of abscesses of the central nervous system: a multicentre prospective study - PubMed (original) (raw)

Bacteriology of abscesses of the central nervous system: a multicentre prospective study

J de Louvois et al. Br Med J. 1977.

Abstract

Pus from 46 patients with abscesses of the central nervous system (CNS) was examined for bacteria; bacteria were found in all patients. Streptococci were isolated from 36 patients and most isolates were Streptococcus milleri, Lancefield Group F, Ottens and Winkler type O III. Staphylococci were isolated from nine patients, organisms of the bacteroides group from 11, Proteus spp from seven, Klebsiella aerogenes from one, and Haemophilus aphrophilus from one. Pure cultures predominated over mixed cultures. Streptococci were isolated from abscesses of all types, and at all sites, but members of the Enterobacteriaceae and of the bacteroides group were isolated, in mixed cultures, principally from abscesses of the temporal lobe secondary to infection of the middle ear. Staphylococci predominated in abscesses that followed accidental or surgical trauma. Compared with fully sensitive control organisms, microbes infecting half the patients were resistant to penicillin. The prognosis of abscess of the CNS is grave, and the microbiological findings have important consequences for treatment. Prompt inoculation of specimens to culture plates and prompt incubation are mandatory if bacteria are to be cultured. Inhibitors of antimicrobial agents should be added to culture media if antibiotics have been administered. Provided that the site of the abscess and the antecedent history are ascertainable, the neurosurgeon should be able to start appropriate treatment while awaiting the results of culture.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

• Antibiotic treatment of abscesses of the central nervous system.
  de Louvois J, Gortvai P, Hurley R. de Louvois J, et al. Br Med J. 1977 Oct 15;2(6093):985-7. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6093.985. Br Med J. 1977. PMID: 922397 Free PMC article.
• Microbiology of cerebral abscess: a four-year study in Malaysia.
  Pit S, Jamal F, Cheah FK. Pit S, et al. J Trop Med Hyg. 1993 Jun;96(3):191-6. J Trop Med Hyg. 1993. PMID: 8505776
• Bacteriological examination of pus from abscesses of the central nervous system.
  de Louvois J. de Louvois J. J Clin Pathol. 1980 Jan;33(1):66-71. doi: 10.1136/jcp.33.1.66. J Clin Pathol. 1980. PMID: 6987279 Free PMC article.
• Infections of the central nervous system.
  Townsend GC, Scheld WM. Townsend GC, et al. Adv Intern Med. 1998;43:403-47. Adv Intern Med. 1998. PMID: 9506189 Review. No abstract available.
• Microbiology and choice of antimicrobial therapy for acute sinusitis complicated by subperiosteal abscess in children.
  Brook I. Brook I. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016 May;84:21-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2016.02.022. Epub 2016 Feb 26. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2016. PMID: 27063747 Review.

Cited by

• Prospective study of Streptococcus milleri bacteremia.
  Casariego E, Rodriguez A, Corredoira JC, Alonso P, Coira A, Bal M, López MJ, Varela J. Casariego E, et al. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1996 Mar;15(3):194-200. doi: 10.1007/BF01591353. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1996. PMID: 8740852
• The isolation of streptococci from human faeces.
  Unsworth PF. Unsworth PF. J Hyg (Lond). 1980 Aug;85(1):153-64. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400027169. J Hyg (Lond). 1980. PMID: 7052230 Free PMC article.
• Multiple pyogenic brain abscesses.
  Sharma BS, Khosla VK, Kak VK, Gupta VK, Tewari MK, Mathuriya SN, Pathak A. Sharma BS, et al. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1995;133(1-2):36-43. doi: 10.1007/BF01404945. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1995. PMID: 8561034
• Evaluation of aztreonam in experimental bacterial meningitis and cerebritis.
  Scheld WM, Brodeur JP, Gratz JC, Foresman P, Rodeheaver G. Scheld WM, et al. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1983 Nov;24(5):682-8. doi: 10.1128/AAC.24.5.682. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1983. PMID: 6362552 Free PMC article.
• Susceptibility of brain to aerobic, anaerobic, and fungal organisms.
  Costello GT, Heppe R, Winn HR, Scheld WM, Rodeheaver GT. Costello GT, et al. Infect Immun. 1983 Aug;41(2):535-9. doi: 10.1128/iai.41.2.535-539.1983. Infect Immun. 1983. PMID: 6409808 Free PMC article.

References

1. 1. Lancet. 1975 Mar 22;1(7908):657-9 - PubMed
2. 1. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1973 Oct;36(5):757-68 - PubMed
3. 1. J Gen Microbiol. 1973 Aug;77(2):447-54 - PubMed
4. 1. Am J Med. 1973 Feb;54(2):201-10 - PubMed
5. 1. Appl Microbiol. 1973 Dec;26(6):899-903 - PubMed

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources

• Full Text Sources

  • Europe PubMed Central
  • PubMed Central

• Miscellaneous

  • NCI CPTAC Assay Portal