Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
Published on: July 1, 2018
Oral bacterial cultures in nontraumatic brain abscesses: results of a first-line study
Andreas Albert Mueller1, Belma Saldamli, Stefan Stübinger
1Division of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Clinic for Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. anmueller@uhbs.ch
Objective:
Bacterial cultures from nontraumatic brain abscesses (BAs) frequently contain oral bacteria. We assessed bacterial cultures from BAs and oral infective sources for a bacterial match.
Study Design:
Bacterial samples from brain abscesses and oral abscesses, and at sites with probing depths >or=3.5 mm were taken from 11 nontraumatic BA patients and analyzed.
Results:
Brain abscess bacterial cultures were obtained in 9 of the 11 cases, which revealed 5 cases of Streptococcus milleri group bacteria and 4 cases of subgingival flora. The bacteriologic results were interpreted taking all medical and bacteriologic findings into account, which made an oral origin of the BAs most likely in 6 of the 11 cases: from an oral abscess and from the subgingival flora in 3 cases each.
Conclusions:
Early collaboration between neurosurgeons, infectious disease specialists, and oral-maxillofacial surgeons will aid the identification and treatment of suspected oral sources of nontraumatic BAs.
Related Concept Videos
Brain Abscess l: Introduction
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
Bacterial Meningitis
Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...
