MULTIPLE BRAIN ABSCESSES AT KING-KHALID-UNIVERSITY-HOSPITAL

The authors reviewed six cases of multiple brain abscesses that were t reated at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) over an eight year pe riod. This represented 22% of the total brain abscesses treated during the same period. The series is unusual in that the infective pathogen s were fungi (Fonsecaea pedrosoi) in two patients (33%) and an aerobic actinomycete (Nocardia asteroides) in one patient (16%). Two patients treated elsewhere with antibiotics empirically for one month died at three and 28 days following admission. The poor outcome was probably r elated to the delay in obtaining a microbiological diagnosis and comme ncing the appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The importance of early i dentification of the pathogen in patients with multiple brain abscesse s is stressed.