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Multiple brain abscesses due to Actinomyces species.

Oluwadamilola A Adeyemi¹, Numa Gottardi-Littell, Kenji Muro

¹Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. o-adeyemi@northwestern.edu

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery

|July 8, 2008

Summary

This case study details a rare instance of multiple brain abscesses caused by Actinomyces species in an otherwise healthy adult. Diagnosis involved identifying sulfur granules and Gram-positive rods in brain tissue samples.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Infectious Diseases
Microbiology

Background:

Actinomyces species are rare causes of brain abscesses, particularly in immunocompetent individuals.
Brain abscesses can present with non-specific neurological symptoms, complicating early diagnosis.

Observation:

A 35-year-old immunocompetent male presented with a two-month history of headache, diplopia, fever, and weight loss.
Symptoms persisted despite a month of broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment.

Findings:

Surgical intervention, including right anterior temporal lobectomy and abscess evacuation, was performed.
Histopathological examination revealed sulfur granules and Gram-positive filamentous rods, confirming Actinomyces infection.

Implications:

This case highlights the importance of considering Actinomyces in the differential diagnosis of brain abscesses, even in immunocompetent patients.
Prompt histopathological analysis is crucial for accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment of rare infectious etiologies.