Brain abscess

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for patients with HIV infection that maintains CD4 count reduces the risk of brain abscess, particularly from Toxoplasma gondii. Aggressive appropriate treatment of sinusitis has been advocated for the prevention of brain abscess, although it has been reported that the intracranial extension of sinusitis may occur as a sporadic complication of sinusitis independent of appropriate treatment.[8]Jones NS, Walker JL, Bassi S, et al. The intracranial complications of rhinosinusitis: can they be prevented? Laryngoscope. 2002 Jan;112(1):59-63. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11802039?tool=bestpractice.com Prophylaxis with antibiotics for patients undergoing extensive dental procedures is controversial, but the practice may decrease the risk of brain abscess.[11]Corson MA, Postlethwaite KP, Seymour RA. Are dental infections a cause of brain abscess? Oral Dis. 2001 Jan;7(1):61-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11354924?tool=bestpractice.com

Continued treatment or prevention of predisposing causes for brain abscess in appropriate patients is important. These include correction of immunosuppression or interim care for poor dentition, even though the link between dentition and brain abscess is difficult to establish epidemiologically because poor dentition is common.