Tekkök I H, Higgins M J, Ventureyra E C
Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Canada.
Neurosurgery. 1996 Dec;39(6):1247-51. doi: 10.1097/00006123-199612000-00039.
Gas-containing brain abscesses are rare, and the vast majority are caused by Clostridium perfringens. Significant simultaneous fungal infection in a bacterial abscess is even rarer. We present such a case and review the literature.
A 21-month-old male patient sustained a penetrating head injury in a barnyard, developed a gas-containing left parietal brain abscess, and presented with high fever, galeal swelling, and seizure.
The patient initially underwent debridement of his wound and then repeated aspirations. The initial cultures revealed pure growth of Clostridium perfringens. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, serial neuroimaging did not demonstrate a decrease in the size of the cavity. An excision had to be undertaken 6 weeks after the injury. The culture from the excised specimen revealed an unexpected growth of a saprophytic and opportunistic fungus, Myceliophthora thermophila. Antifungal treatment consisting of the administration of liposomal amphotericin B and itraconazole was then performed. The child was well and neurologically intact 6 months after the excision.
Our review revealed 38 cases of clostridial brain abscess in the literature. Despite the reputation of the organism, the outcome with clostridial brain abscesses was relatively benign. The main characteristics of clostridial brain abscesses are highlighted, with reference to their optimal treatment. Our review also revealed that fungal infection after a penetrating head injury is extremely rare and often fatal. Our case seems to be the first in the medical literature with growth of M. thermophila as a causative agent for intracranial suppuration.
