How can we manage Bezold abscess emergency in COVID-19 pandemic? Blind ceftriaxone and metronidazole treatment to avoid infection spread†

Alfonso Scarpa; Arianna Di Stadio; Pietro De Luca; Matteo Calvanese; Pasquale Viola; Domenico Tassone; Luca de Campora; Matteo Simone; Giampietro Ricci; Daniela Messineo; Massimo Ralli; Claudia Cassandro

doi:10.1093/jscr/rjab493

How can we manage Bezold abscess emergency in COVID-19 pandemic? Blind ceftriaxone and metronidazole treatment to avoid infection spread^†

J Surg Case Rep. 2021 Oct 26;2021(10):rjab493. doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjab493. eCollection 2021 Oct.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy.
² Department of Otolaryngology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
³ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Unit of Audiology, Regional Centre for Cochlear Implants and ENT Diseases, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy.
⁴ Otolaryngology Department, San Giovanni-Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy.
⁵ Radiology Oncology and Anatomopathological Department, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
⁶ Organ of Sense Department, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Department of Otolaryngology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

Abstract

Bezold abscess (BA) can be a rare complication of different forms of otitis media. We describe a rare case of BA determined by Escherichia Coli. Because of COVID-19 restriction, the surgery had to be delayed up to the swab results. To avoid infection spread, the patient was treated by blind antibiotic treatment until the surgical drainage of mastoid and neck. Thanks to the treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, the progression and the spread of the infection during COVID-19 investigation was avoided. Delayed surgery could expose the patient to the risk of severe brain infection caused by the E. Coli.

Publication types

Case Reports