Treatment-refractory Escherichia coli subdural empyema caused by infection of a chronic subdural hematoma in an infant.

INTRODUCTION: Subdural empyema (SDE) is a neurosurgical emergency that is typically treated with surgical drainage, either by burr hole or by craniotomy. Escherichia coli is an uncommon cause of SDE and is associated with infection of a pre-existing subdural hematoma. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an otherwise healthy, immunocompetent 4-month-old infant girl with an E. coli-infected subdural hematoma. The infection persisted despite aggressive neurosurgical treatment that included drainage of the subdural space through burr holes and, subsequently, a wide craniotomy was performed. Ultimately, after 30 days, the SDE resolved with good neurological outcome. A review of prior literature indicates that infected subdural hematomas (including those caused by E. coli) are typically less aggressive and respond to burr hole drainage. CONCLUSION: We illustrate the fulminant progression of the SDE in the face of neurosurgical treatment. Our experience suggests lowering the threshold for wide craniotomy in these incompletely understood cases.

[Chronic subdural hematoma infected by Campylobacter fetus: case report]. / Infection d'hématome sous-dural chronique à Campylobacter fetus : à propos d'un cas.

We report here a rare case of chronic subdural hematoma infected by Campylobacter fetus in a 86-year-old woman. She was admitted for confusion and disorientation in a context of high fever and diarrhoea. After two surgeries, the evolution was finally good with a combination of antibiotics (amoxicillin and clindamycin). Chronic subdural hematoma is a potential site for bacterial infection. Our case suggests that C. fetus infection should be suspected in elderly patients presenting with fever and enteritis. The frequency of such cases may be underestimated, due to the difficult diagnosis of C. fetus. It is also suspected that C. fetus could play a role in the recurrence of hematoma, because of its vessel tropism.

Infantile chronic subdural hematoma infected by Escherichia coli--case report.

A 6-month-old boy presented with a rare case of infected subdural hemorrhage manifesting as sustained fever and focal seizure. The boy had been well without contributory medical history. Physical examination found no neurological impairment with intact superficial appearance and soft fontanels. The parents denied recent head trauma or shaking injury. Blood examination was normal except for white blood cell count of 19200/microl and C-reactive protein level of 6.7 mg/dl. Bacterial culture of nasal swab, urine, stool, and venous blood samples was negative. Cerebrospinal fluid examination showed normal findings. Cranial computed tomography revealed an expansive subdural fluid collection in the right frontotemporal region. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the lesion as hypointense on T1- and hyperintense on T2-weighted images with intense enhancement of the outer membrane. The patient underwent burr-hole drainage, which identified the subdural hematoma encapsulated in a thick outer membrane and intermingled with pus material. Culture of the pus identified Escherichia coli. The patient received antibiotic therapy for 8 weeks that resulted in complete resolution of the infection. We assumed that preexisting subdural hematoma formed after minor head trauma was followed by hematogenous infection by E. coli. Infected subdural hematoma is possible in infants presenting with subdural hemorrhage with clinical symptoms of bacteremia.

Empyema of preexisting subdural hemorrhage caused by a rare salmonella species after exposure to bearded dragons in a foster home.

An infant had a subdural empyema caused by the rare Salmonella species enterica subspecies houtenae (IV) serotype 44:z4,z23:- after only indirect exposure to exotic reptiles in her foster home. Infants recovering from preexisting subdural hematoma are at risk for development of empyema.

[Case of bilateral subdural empyema complicating Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus meningitis].

Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus (C. fetus) is a relatively rare cause of meningitis, with only 3 cases of C. fetus subdural empyema reported to date. We experienced a case of bilateral subdural empyema complicating C. fetus meningitis. A 51-year-old man was found lying unconscious on a street and was brought to the hospital in an ambulance. He had no past history of any underlying disease but he had suffered head trauma approximately 1 month prior to this episode. On admission, he had high fever and developed a convulsion fit. Because the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings showed mononuclear dominant pleocytosis and Gram staining revealed spiral-shaped gram negative bacilli, meningitis caused by C. fetus was suspected. Brain CT preformed on admission did not reveal any obvious abnormality. He was immediately treated with antibiotics effective against C. fetus. His disease was complicated by bilateral subdural empyema; therefore, bilateral burr hole drainage was performed. Durling the operation, a hematoma with an outer membrane and containing yellowish pus was revealed. Infection of a chronic subdural hematoma and consequent formation of subdural empyema was deduced. Eventually, C. fetus was isolated from the CSF arterial blood and subdural empyema. The patient was discharged with no complication after the completion of the treatment.

[A case of infected subdural hematoma following chronic subdural hematoma irrigation].

A 71-year-old female complicating Parkinson disease and diabetes mellitus was admitted to our medical center for urinary tract infection one month after burr hole irrigation and drainage of left chronic subdural hematoma. Klebsiella pneumonia was detected in the bacterial culture of her urine. As antibiotic therapy started, her condition and peripheral white blood cell counts were improved. But consciousness level got worsened and right hemiparesis appeared. A CT scan showed re-accumulation of left subdural fluid so an emergent irrigation was performed. The old hematoma with slightly yellowish, bloody purulent fluid was found and an intracapsular drain was inserted. Klebsiella pneumonia was detected from the bacterial culture of the hematoma. After 10 days, a CT scan showed subdural fluid collection again, so, total hematoma capsule removal was performed. After the operation, her neurological and serological condition improved and she was discharged without any neurological deficits. Klebsiella pneumonia existing urinary tracts rarely infected subdural hematoma cavity via hematogenous dissemination. We must keep in mind this complication may occur when we see compromised host like this case. Total removal of infected hematoma capsule is considered as radical treatment.

[A case of infected subdural hematoma due to Campyrobacter fetus].

A 20-year-old male presented fever, nausea and headache 1 week after eating uncooked liver. On admission, it was revealed he had suffered a closed head injury 3 months before without unconsciousness. On admission, computed tomography scan showed a left chronic subdural hematoma. Gd-DTPA magnetic resonance images revealed unusual enhancement of the capsule and linear enhancement of the subarachnoid space. The patient underwent burr hole irrigation and drainage. The culture of the hematoma content showed Campylobacter fetus. Therefore, the diagnose was infected subdural hematoma. A drainage operation and administration of antibiotics were effective. Our case suggests that enhanced magnetic resonance images are useful for diagnosis and follow-up of infected subdural hematoma.