Brain abscess due to Enterococcus avium

Abstract

We report the first case of brain abscess due to Enterococcus avium in a 19-year-old man with chronic otitis media since childhood. The patient presented to the emergency department in a comatose condition. Contrast-enhanced brain computed tomography scan showed a hypodense area with ring enhancement in the right temporal lobe and mass effect with subfalcine and transtentorial herniation. Emergency temporal burr hole operation was performed and pus drained out, but the patient succumbed to his illness. Culture of the aspirated pus yielded growth of gram-positive cocci identified as E avium, an infrequent pathogen of human infections. The association of E avium with brain abscess further extends the clinical spectrum of this rare pathogen.