Role of anaerobic bacteria in subdural empyema. Report of four cases and review of 327 cases from the English literature

Am J Med. 1975 Jan;58(1):99-104. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(75)90539-2.

Abstract

Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the subdural space in all four cases of subdural empyema encountered over a 2 and a half year period. Only one aerobe was isolated in these cases. The bacteriology of subdural empyema was further analyzed from a review of 327 cases reported in the English literature. Anaerobes accounted for 12 per cent of 234 cases; In addition, 27 per cent of cases were reportedly "sterile." These data support our finding that anaerobic bacteria may play a far more important role in subdural empyema than was previously appreciated.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Ampicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bacteroides / isolation & purification
  • Bacteroides Infections / diagnosis
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology*
  • Brain Abscess / surgery
  • Child
  • Chloramphenicol / therapeutic use
  • Clindamycin / therapeutic use
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use
  • Drainage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meninges*
  • Methicillin / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillins / therapeutic use
  • Peptostreptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Pneumococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Subdural Space* / microbiology
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Penicillins
  • Clindamycin
  • Chloramphenicol
  • Ampicillin
  • Dexamethasone
  • Tetracycline
  • Methicillin