Brain abscess natural history

Prognosis
Once an almost always fatal disease before the CT era. If the abscess is treated before the person goes into a coma then the death rate has been estimated from 5% to 20%.

Early treatment and the patients overall health has an effect on prognosis. Other factors include: antibiotic resistance or the abscess location. An abscess deep within the brain is more difficult to treat than others.

In general

 * Mortality is currently quoted to range from 0 – 24%.
 * Poor prognostic indicators include:
 * Intraventricular rupture:
 * 80% mortality rate, often treated with open drainage and debridement f/b ventriculostomy catheter for drainage and intrathecal abx
 * Mental status and neurologic function at time of Dx:
 * The most common sequellae is seizures, which develop in 35 – 70% of patients.