Nocardial brain abscess: observation of treatment strategies and outcome in Switzerland from 1992 to 1999

Loeffler, Jutta M.; Bodmer, Thomas; Zimmerli, Werner; Leib, Stephen L. (2001). Nocardial brain abscess: observation of treatment strategies and outcome in Switzerland from 1992 to 1999. Infection, 29(6), pp. 337-341. Springer-Medizin-Verlag 10.1007/s15010-001-1147-1

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BACKGROUND

Brain abscesses caused by Nocardia spp. are rare, but life-threatening infections that are notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat and which occur mainly in immunocompromised patients. Standard treatment guidelines are not available.

METHODS

A systematic search for nocardial brain abscesses from 1992 to 1999 was conducted in Switzerland for the comparison of clinical presentation, treatment strategies and outcome.

RESULTS

Seven cases were found, for which data of six were available. In 4/6 patients antimicrobial therapy led to a decrease in the size of abscesses. Four of six patients died. The cause of death was likely due to underlying co-morbidities, rather than the nocardial infection.

CONCLUSION

The finding that treatment was different in each case underscores the lack of therapeutic guidelines.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute for Infectious Diseases
04 Faculty of Medicine > Medical Education > Institute of General Practice and Primary Care (BIHAM)

UniBE Contributor:

Bodmer, Thomas, Leib, Stephen

Subjects:

500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

0300-8126

Publisher:

Springer-Medizin-Verlag

Language:

English

Submitter:

Stephen Leib

Date Deposited:

01 Sep 2014 10:25

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:34

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s15010-001-1147-1

PubMed ID:

11787836

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Nocardia, Brain abscess, Antibiotics, Switzerland

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.52757

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/52757

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