Summary
The bacteriology for 21 patients with brain abscesses is presented and correlated with their predisposing conditions. Chronic otomastoiditis was the most common predisposing factor, and the overall most frequent infected sites were the frontal and temporal regions. Gram-negative non-sporeforming anaerobes of the genusBacteroides andFusobacterium followed by aerobic streptococci were the predominant pathogens. Enterobacteria were only identified in postcraniotomy abscesses, while a substantial number of fastidious species was detected in suppurations related to congenital heart disease. Altogether, anaerobes alone were recovered in seven patients, aerobes alone in six, and mixed aerobes and anaerobes in four patients. These findings confirm the predominant role of anaerobes in the etiology of intracranial suppurations.
Zusammenfassung
Bakteriologie und prädisponierende Faktoren von 21 Patienten mit Hirnabszeß werden vorgestellt. Der häufigste prädisponierende Faktor war die chronische Otomastoiditis. Am häufigsten waren die Frontal- und Temporal-Regionen infiziert. Gram-negative, nicht sporenbildende Anaerobier der FamilienBacteroides undFusobacterium und aerobeStreptococcus spp. waren die häufigsten Erreger, Enterobakterien wurden nur in Abszessen, die nach einer posterioren Kraniotomie auftraten, identifiziert. Bei Patienten mit angeborenem Herzfehler fanden sich vor allem langsam wachsende Spezies. Insgesamt wurden von sieben Patienten nur Anaerobier, von sechs Patienten nur Aerobier und von vier Patienten sowohl Aerobier wie Anaerobier isoliert. Die Bedeutung der Anaerobier in der Ätiologie der intrakraniellen Abszesse wird durch diese Befunde bestätigt.
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Sofianou, D., Tsakris, A., Selviarides, P. et al. Etiological agents and predisposing factors of intracranial abscesses in a Greek university hospital. Infection 24, 144–146 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01713323
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01713323