A new meta-analysis in Journal of Infection examines how CT and MRI have influenced brain abscess diagnosis and treatment, analyzing data from 21,840 patients between 1980 and 2022. The findings show that brain abscess remains more common in men, with Streptococcus spp. (32%), Staphylococcus spp. (14%), and Gram-negative bacteria (9%) as the leading pathogens. Key risk factors include otitis/mastoiditis (27%), immunocompromise (19%), and sinusitis (16%).Despite advances in imaging and treatment, the case-fatality rate remains at 12%, and long-term complications such as epilepsy persist. Neurosurgical aspiration continues to be the primary approach, but overall outcomes have not significantly improved. Early diagnosis and optimized treatment strategies remain critical.
Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2024.106394
