Resolution of an actinomycotic abscess with nonsurgical treatment: case report

Intracerebral Abscess Caused by Actinomyces israelii

We describe a case of 49-years old female with a medical history of penicillin allergy, who suffered from brain infection caused by Actinomyces israelii. Therefore, the available therapy was metronidazole, ceftriaxone, and chloramphenicol. Due to a deterioration of the general and neurological condition of the patient, it was decided to perform a scratch skin test on penicillin, which was negative. After that, penicillin was administrated parenterally. The patient showed no hypersensitive reaction. Improvement was achieved. The patient underwent three subsequent surgeries due to primary and recurrent brain abscesses. There was a distinct improvement in her clinical status. Two months after the second re-surgery, the control computed tomography showed complete regression of the abscess.

Brain abscess caused by an Actinomycess israelii is very resistant to medication. However, surgical evacuation significantly accelerates the healing process. A good medication therapy is crucial and in most cases the drug of choice is penicillin. We emphasize the importance of a combined approach for treating this unusual brain infection.

Actinomycosis of the temporal bone and brain: case report and review of the literature

OBJECTIVES

Actinomycosis is a rare disease with a typically indolent course in the head and neck. During the modern era, only 12 cases within the ear and temporal bone and 75 intracranial cases have been reported. We present a case of actinomycosis of the petrous apex that led to meningitis and encephalitis.

METHODS

The patient was a 12-year-old girl who presented with mental status changes. After 48 hours of treatment with empiric antibiotics for meningitis without improvement, imaging revealed an enhancing mass in the right petrous apex, destruction of the cochlea, meningeal enhancement, and left temporoparietal encephalitis.

RESULTS

The initial therapy included broad-spectrum antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral agents, as well as myringotomy and tympanostomy tube placement. When the patient's clinical status worsened, she underwent subtotal petrosectomy with drainage of the petrous apex. The final pathologic findings were consistent with actinomycosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Actinomycosis is a rare infection in the temporal bone and central nervous system that can have a high mortality risk if not treated appropriately. Often, these bacteria do not grow well in culture, and diagnosis must be made on the basis of histopathologic features. Good clinical outcomes can be obtained with surgical debridement followed by long-term antibiotic treatment.

Bilateral cavernous sinus actinomycosis resulting in painful ophthalmoplegia. Case report

The authors report the successful treatment of a 42-year-old man who suffered from recurrent painful ophthalmoplegia caused by bilateral cavernous sinus (CS) actinomycosis. A presumptive diagnosis of Tolosa-Hunt syndrome was made when he presented with left painful ophthalmoplegia. Recurrent ophthalmoplegia on the opposite side when steroid medications were tapered led to repeated imaging and a pterional craniotomy and biopsy sampling of the CS. These tests demonstrated acute inflammation and sulfur granules, which responded clinically and radiologically to parenterally administered penicillin therapy. Actinomycosis may present as a painful ophthalmoplegia with involvement of one or both CSs. Repeated imaging and possibly surgical exploration may be necessary to make a definitive diagnosis.

Actinomicose cerebral: relato de caso

O acometimento do sistema nervoso central por actinomicetos é raro, porém apresenta bom prognóstico se diagnosticado precocemente e tratado adequadamente. Um caso de abscesso cerebral actinomicótico é apresentado mostrando a necessidade de inclusão desta patologia no diagnóstico diferencial dos processos infecciosos que acometem o sistema nervoso central.

Actinomycotic brain abscess successfully treated by burr hole aspiration and short course antimicrobial therapy

Three cases of brain abscess caused by Actinomyces israelii are reported which were successfully treated by burr hole aspiration and a short course of antibiotics (3-4 weeks). The clinical response of the patients, as well as the serial serum C-reactive protein levels and CT findings were used as a guideline for stopping antimicrobial therapy relatively early.