Preeclampsia complicated by cerebral hemorrhage and brain abscess

A 34-year-old, preeclamptic woman developed a right basal ganglia hematoma during a vaginal delivery. Her course was later complicated by an infected episiotomy. As a consequence of bacterial seeding most likely from the infected episiotomy, the intracerebral hematoma became infected, developing into a brain abscess. Because of her existing neurological deficits, the developing brain abscess was not recognized until signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure developed. This patient illustrates another potentially life-threatening neurological infection that may occur in the peripartum period.