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[Actinomyces sp. brain abscess: a rare infection in children. A case report]

Nancy De Olivera1, Lorena Pardo2,3, Natalia Rojas4

  • 1Clínica Pediátrica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Uruguay. nancydeolivera@hotmail.com.

Archivos Argentinos De Pediatria
|November 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Intracranial infections like brain abscesses can be caused by rare bacteria such as Actinomyces sp. This case report highlights the importance of pathological anatomy in diagnosing unusual infections and guiding prolonged antibiotic therapy for favorable outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Intracranial infections, including brain abscesses, represent a significant clinical challenge despite advances in medicine.
  • The incidence of these infections ranges from 0.3 to 1.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, underscoring their continued importance.

Observation:

  • A previously healthy patient presented with a brain abscess diagnosed intraoperatively.
  • Cultures revealed polymicrobial development, but pathological anatomy presumptively identified Actinomyces sp.

Findings:

  • The identification of Actinomyces sp., an unusual pathogen in brain abscesses, was crucial for etiological diagnosis.
  • Prolonged combined antibiotic therapy was initiated based on this finding, leading to a good clinical evolution.

Implications:

  • This case emphasizes the critical role of anatomopathology in identifying uncommon microorganisms in brain abscesses.
  • The findings suggest a need for further investigation into predisposing factors for Actinomyces sp. brain infections.
Keywords:
brain abscesscentral nervous system infectionpartial seizures

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