Enterococcus avium. An unusual cause of cerebral abscess

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Published on: September 27, 2018

Abimbola O Osoba1, Hussam Kutub, Ahmed Waliuddin

  • 1Division of Microbiology, King Khalid National Guard Hospital, PO Box 9515, Jeddah 21423, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tel. +966 (2) 624000. Fax. +966 (2) 6247444.

Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
|April 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Enterococcus avium, a rare bacterium, caused a cerebral abscess in a young woman after brain tumor treatment. Prompt antibiotic therapy led to successful recovery, highlighting this organism

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Enterococci are common human flora but increasingly cause infections.
  • Enterococcus avium is an uncommon human pathogen.
  • Cerebral abscesses are serious complications, often bacterial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of cerebral abscess caused by Enterococcus avium.
  • To discuss the pathogenesis of Enterococcus avium in brain infections.
  • To highlight successful treatment outcomes for this rare infection.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 19-year-old female with astrocytoma.
  • Diagnosis of cerebral abscess post-chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
  • Identification of Enterococcus avium from abscess pus via culture.
  • Successful treatment with antibiotics and surgical drainage.

Main Results:

  • Enterococcus avium was identified as the causative agent of a cerebral abscess.
  • The patient, previously treated for astrocytoma, recovered fully after treatment.
  • This case underscores the potential of Enterococcus avium as a pathogen in immunocompromised individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Enterococcus avium can cause severe infections like cerebral abscesses, albeit rarely.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are crucial for favorable outcomes.
  • Further research into the pathogenesis of Enterococcus avium is warranted.

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