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Multi-antibiotic resistant brain abscess sensitive only to chloramphenicol: a case report
Atiq Ur Rehman1, Tausif Rehman, Rushna Ali
1Department of Neurosurgery, King Fahd Specialists Hospital, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia. atiq_ur@yahoo.com
Cases Journal
|November 18, 2009
Summary
This case study highlights the effectiveness of chloramphenicol in treating a recurrent, culture-negative brain abscess. Despite its rarity in the US, chloramphenicol proved successful as a second-line therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Brain abscesses are focal, intracerebral infections characterized by pus collections within the brain.
- Early stages involve cerebritis, progressing to a encapsulated abscess.
Observation:
- An 18-year-old male presented with a recurrent left temporo-parietal abscess after initial treatment for bilateral subdural empyema.
- Cultures remained negative, and the abscess was unresponsive to multiple antibiotic regimens.
Findings:
- Chloramphenicol therapy was initiated as a last resort, leading to immediate clinical improvement.
- The patient experienced a relatively uneventful recovery following chloramphenicol treatment.
Implications:
- Chloramphenicol, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, demonstrates efficacy against various microorganisms, including those in culture-negative infections.
- Its ability to achieve high cerebrospinal fluid concentrations suggests its utility as a second-line treatment for challenging brain abscess cases.
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