Snapshot in surgery: brain abscess as a complication of a recurrent sigmoid diverticular abscess

Abstract

A 35-year-old man was found to have a cerebral abscess secondary to a recurrent sigmoid diverticular abscess. Both cultures grew Streptococcus anginosus. Brain abscess is a rare but potential complication of sigmoid diverticulitis. Streptococcus anginosus, which is found in human gut flora, is a common cause of brain abscess.

A fatal case with multiple liver and splenic abscesses due to Streptococcus anginosus bacteremia in a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis

“…Common sites of abscess formation are brain, lung, liver and spleen. Underlying conditions associated with abscess formation include dental infection, malignancy and gastrointestinal diseases, which were not identified in our patient [7][8][9]. Several cases are reported worldwide with coexisting brain-liver, brain-lung and brain-spleen abscess with or without bacteremia [5].…”

Streptococcus anginosus group - brief characterization and its contribution to the brain abscess pathogenesis

“…Thus, Zhou et al reported a very recent case of a 30-year-old patient with a brain abscess secondary to a recurrent sigmoid diverticular abscess, with isolation of the same strain of S. anginosus from both abscesses. 43 A Dutch team published a case report of a 51-year-old patient who developed a temporo-parieto-occipital abscess with leakage into the ventricle following a transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization done under spinal anesthesia 2 weeks ago. 44 The initial treatment consisted in dexamethasone and intravenous penicillin, metronidazole (for 2 weeks) and ceftriaxone (for 3 days).…”