Gas-Forming Brain Abscess due to Peptostreptococcus

ABSTRACT

A gas forming brain abscess that was resistant to treatment with antibiotics, blycerol, and steroids is reported. A CT scan showed a frontal epidural gas shadow which progressed in 3 weeks to massive frontal cerebritis with gas within the abscess, ventricle, and basal cisterns. An anaerobic culture of CSF revealed peptostreptococus, which was been increasing recently as a causative organism in brain abscess. We feel that the primary management of brain abscess should be surgical excision followed by appropriate antibiotic therapy.