Nocardial brain abscesses in a pregnant woman. 1991

T I Braun, and L A Kerson, and F P Eisenberg
Section of Infectious Diseases, Sacred Heart Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, Norristown, Pennsylvania.

We describe what we believe to be the second case in which a pregnancy was complicated by the formation of brain abscesses due to Nocardia asteroides; this case may be the first one in which no risk factor for the infection (other than the pregnancy itself) could be found. Craniotomy with surgical drainage of the abscesses, combined with prolonged antimicrobial therapy, led to clinical cure in the mother, and she gave birth to an unaffected infant. This case illustrates the difficulty in treating a nocardial infection of the brain during pregnancy as well as the importance of achieving adequate surgical drainage of the abscesses.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009616 Nocardia asteroides A species of bacterium of the family NOCARDIACEAE, producing pulmonary infections in man.
D009617 Nocardia Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus NOCARDIA. Cerebral Nocardiosis,Infections, Nocardia,Nocardia asteroides Infection,Nocardiosis,Primary Cutaneous Nocardiosis,Pulmonary Nocardiosis,Cerebral Nocardioses,Cutaneous Nocardioses, Primary,Cutaneous Nocardiosis, Primary,Infection, Nocardia,Infection, Nocardia asteroides,Infections, Nocardia asteroides,Nocardia Infection,Nocardia asteroides Infections,Nocardioses,Nocardioses, Cerebral,Nocardioses, Primary Cutaneous,Nocardioses, Pulmonary,Nocardiosis, Cerebral,Nocardiosis, Primary Cutaneous,Nocardiosis, Pulmonary,Primary Cutaneous Nocardioses,Pulmonary Nocardioses
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011251 Pregnancy Complications, Infectious The co-occurrence of pregnancy and an INFECTION. The infection may precede or follow FERTILIZATION. Complications, Infectious Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complications,Maternal Sepsis,Pregnancy, Infectious Complications,Sepsis during Pregnancy,Sepsis in Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complication,Pregnancy Complication, Infectious,Sepsis in Pregnancies,Sepsis, Maternal
D001922 Brain Abscess A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate in the brain, due to bacterial and other infections. The majority are caused by spread of infected material from a focus of suppuration elsewhere in the body, notably the PARANASAL SINUSES, middle ear (see EAR, MIDDLE); HEART (see also ENDOCARDITIS, BACTERIAL), and LUNG. Penetrating CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA and NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES may also be associated with this condition. Clinical manifestations include HEADACHE; SEIZURES; focal neurologic deficits; and alterations of consciousness. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp712-6) Brain Abscess, Child,Brain Abscess, Multiple,Brain Abscess, Pyogenic,Brain Abscess, Sterile,Cerebral Abscess,Abscess, Brain,Abscess, Cerebral,Abscess, Child Brain,Abscess, Multiple Brain,Abscess, Pyogenic Brain,Abscesses, Cerebral,Abscesses, Multiple Brain,Brain Abscesses,Brain Abscesses, Multiple,Brain Abscesses, Pyogenic,Brain Abscesses, Sterile,Cerebral Abscesses,Child Brain Abscess,Multiple Brain Abscess,Multiple Brain Abscesses,Pyogenic Brain Abscess,Pyogenic Brain Abscesses,Sterile Brain Abscess,Sterile Brain Abscesses
D002443 Ceftriaxone A broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic and cefotaxime derivative with a very long half-life and high penetrability to meninges, eyes and inner ears. Benaxona,Cefatriaxone,Cefaxona,Ceftrex,Ceftriaxon,Ceftriaxon Curamed,Ceftriaxon Hexal,Ceftriaxona Andreu,Ceftriaxona LDP Torlan,Ceftriaxone Irex,Ceftriaxone Sodium,Ceftriaxone Sodium, Anhydrous,Ceftriaxone, Disodium Salt,Ceftriaxone, Disodium Salt, Hemiheptahydrate,Lendacin,Longacef,Longaceph,Ro 13-9904,Ro-13-9904,Ro13-9904,Rocefalin,Rocefin,Rocephin,Rocephine,Tacex,Terbac,Anhydrous Ceftriaxone Sodium,Ro 13 9904,Ro 139904,Ro13 9904,Ro139904
D003131 Combined Modality Therapy The treatment of a disease or condition by several different means simultaneously or sequentially. Chemoimmunotherapy, RADIOIMMUNOTHERAPY, chemoradiotherapy, cryochemotherapy, and SALVAGE THERAPY are seen most frequently, but their combinations with each other and surgery are also used. Multimodal Treatment,Therapy, Combined Modality,Combined Modality Therapies,Modality Therapies, Combined,Modality Therapy, Combined,Multimodal Treatments,Therapies, Combined Modality,Treatment, Multimodal,Treatments, Multimodal
D003399 Craniotomy Surgical incision into the cranium. Craniectomy,Craniectomies,Craniotomies
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005260 Female Females

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