Pediatric intracranial epidural abscess secondary to an infected scalp vein catheter

The authors present a case of a 5-week-old infant developing a retrotorcula r epidural abscess as a result of an infected scalp vein catheter. The absc ess developed in the absence of sinusitis, otitis, trauma, or prior surgery . The diagnosis of epidural abscess was made on the basis of magnetic reson ance imaging and ultrasound-guided aspiration of the fluid collection. An i dentified strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis was cultured from both the i ntravenous catheter and the abscess. The patient underwent a suboccipital c raniectomy with drainage of the abscess and a 6-week total course of intrav enous antibiotics. Magnetic resonance imaging 4 months after the procedure and 2.5-year pediatric clinic follow-up have demonstrated no evidence of ne urologic deficit or recurrence. When present, a scalp vein catheter must be considered as an etiologic agent for an intracranial epidural abscess in t his age-group.