When upper respiratory tract infections go rogue: A case report of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum Cerebral Abscess

Abstract

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum is an extremely rare cause of cerebral abscess. We present a unique case of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum sinusitis complicated by preseptal cellulitis and cerebral abscess. The patient initially presented with pharyngitis and then developed sinus congestion, headache and facial pain. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a right gyrus rectus cerebral abscess and paranasal sinus infection. The patient underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and cultures revealed Arcanobacterium haemolyticum . Repeat imaging revealed maturation and progression of intracranial abscess. The abscess was drained and patient was treated with parenteral and oral antibiotics until complete clinical and radiological remission. This case highlights the importance of recognizing Arcanobacterium haemolyticum as a cause of invasive disease in immunocompetent hosts.

Arcanobacterium haemolyticum bacteremia presenting as severe sepsis: A case report and review of the literature

“…The pathogenicity of this organism varies in the literature. Rarely, A. Haemolyticum can be associated with severe systemic infections as in infective endocarditis [3] , systemic abscesses [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , osteomyelitis [8] , [9] , and septicemia [9] , [10] . We describe a case of a young patient who was transferred to our hospital with severe sepsis and complicated bacteremia caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum .…”

Polymicrobial arcanobacterium haemolyticum intracerebral abscess: A case report and review of the literature

“…Central nervous system involvement by local extension has been reported in relation to dental extraction [16] , head trauma [17] and upper respiratory tract infection [9] , [18] , [19] . Although cases of isolated meningitis have been described [9] , [20] , the natural history of most cases of central nervous system infection appears to reflect, as in this case, subdural empyema formation, cerebritis and progressive abscess formation necessitating surgical intervention [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] . In contrast, two cases have been reported of infective endocarditis with resultant septic emboli to the brain [10] , [21] .…”

“… Case Gender Age Organisms Focus of infection Intra-cranial complication Antibiotic treatment Duration of treatment Ref. 1 M 24 A. Haemolyticum , propionibacterium avidum Pharyngitis, sinusitis Cerebral abscess Ceftriaxone, metronidazole 7 weeks Adams [18] 2 F 16 A. Haemolyticum; Bacteroides species, anaerococcus tetradius, dialister micraerophilus, erysipelotrichaceae species, Propionibacterium acnes Head trauma Subdural empyema, cerebral abscess Vancomycin, ceftriaxone, metronidazole; amoxicillin/clavulanate 6 weeks Cortes-Penfield [17] 3 M 18 A. Haemolyticum Dental extraction Cerebral abscess Penicillin G 4 weeks Vargas [16] 4 M 20 A. Haemolyticum, Epstein-Barr Virus Sinusitis Subdural empyema, cerebral abscess Ceftriaxone, metronidazole 9 weeks Poplin [19] 5 F 21 A. Haemolyticum Infective endocarditis Cerebral abscess, intracerebral haemorrhage Ceftriaxone, gentamicin 6 weeks Wong [10] 6 M 15 A. Haemolyticum , fusobacterium necrophorum Pharyngitis, tonsillitis Meningitis, abducent palsy Cefotaxime, metronidazole Unclear Skov [9] 7 M 58 A. Haemolyticu...…”

A history of neurosurgical capabilities in the United States Pacific Command: from World War II to present

“…Although most procedures are elective spine surgical procedures aimed at maintaining unit readiness, the hospital is capable of treating complex neurosurgical emergencies. 46,47 The only tertiary care hospital in PACOM with expanded medical and surgical capability is TAMC. Tripler General Hospital existed prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, but the present-day structure was created after the 1941 attack in preparation for the Pacific conflict.…”