Oral bacterial cultures in nontraumatic brain abscesses: results of a first-line study

Abstract

Objective: Bacterial cultures from nontraumatic brain abscesses (BAs) frequently contain oral bacteria. We assessed bacterial cultures from BAs and oral infective sources for a bacterial match.

Study design: Bacterial samples from brain abscesses and oral abscesses, and at sites with probing depths >or=3.5 mm were taken from 11 nontraumatic BA patients and analyzed.

Results: Brain abscess bacterial cultures were obtained in 9 of the 11 cases, which revealed 5 cases of Streptococcus milleri group bacteria and 4 cases of subgingival flora. The bacteriologic results were interpreted taking all medical and bacteriologic findings into account, which made an oral origin of the BAs most likely in 6 of the 11 cases: from an oral abscess and from the subgingival flora in 3 cases each.

Conclusions: Early collaboration between neurosurgeons, infectious disease specialists, and oral-maxillofacial surgeons will aid the identification and treatment of suspected oral sources of nontraumatic BAs.