TY - JOUR
T1 - Brain Abscesses in the Tropics
AU - Corbisiero, Michaele Francesco
AU - Ripperton, Rebecca A.
AU - Creighton, Elizabeth Garcia
AU - Smyth, Anthony M.
AU - Beckham, J. David
AU - Henao-Martínez, Andres F.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Purpose of Review: This review aims to elucidate the etiologies of brain abscesses in the tropics. Despite the similarities in causes of brain abscesses across global regions, tropical settings manifest distinguishing characteristics, prominently observed on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Recent Findings: In tropical climates, the leading conditions predisposing individuals to brain abscesses are polymicrobial bacterial infections originating from paranasal sinuses, dental sources, and otitis media. However, the tropics present unique etiologies to be aware of, including Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), free-living amoebas like Balamuthia mandrillaris, infections from Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis), fungi such as Talaromyces marneffei, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Given the differential diagnoses, which include neoplastic, inflammatory, and demyelinating diseases, a stereotactic biopsy coupled with a microbiological assessment remains valuable for accurate diagnosis. Summary: In tropical regions, brain abscesses are a concern when confronted with mass-occupying or other types of brain lesions. Successful clinical management of brain abscesses typically combines surgical intervention and extended anti-microbial treatment. However, specific parasitic invasions like Chagas disease, free-living amoebas, and Entamoeba histolytica necessitate targeted anti-parasitic therapies. Furthermore, international policy efforts should focus on prevention measures in resource limited regions with heightened risks and disease burden.
AB - Purpose of Review: This review aims to elucidate the etiologies of brain abscesses in the tropics. Despite the similarities in causes of brain abscesses across global regions, tropical settings manifest distinguishing characteristics, prominently observed on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Recent Findings: In tropical climates, the leading conditions predisposing individuals to brain abscesses are polymicrobial bacterial infections originating from paranasal sinuses, dental sources, and otitis media. However, the tropics present unique etiologies to be aware of, including Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease), free-living amoebas like Balamuthia mandrillaris, infections from Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis), fungi such as Talaromyces marneffei, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Given the differential diagnoses, which include neoplastic, inflammatory, and demyelinating diseases, a stereotactic biopsy coupled with a microbiological assessment remains valuable for accurate diagnosis. Summary: In tropical regions, brain abscesses are a concern when confronted with mass-occupying or other types of brain lesions. Successful clinical management of brain abscesses typically combines surgical intervention and extended anti-microbial treatment. However, specific parasitic invasions like Chagas disease, free-living amoebas, and Entamoeba histolytica necessitate targeted anti-parasitic therapies. Furthermore, international policy efforts should focus on prevention measures in resource limited regions with heightened risks and disease burden.
KW - Brain abscess
KW - Infectious diseases
KW - Tropical infectious diseases
KW - Tropical medicine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85175369852&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85175369852&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s40475-023-00306-8
DO - 10.1007/s40475-023-00306-8
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85175369852
SN - 2196-3045
VL - 10
SP - 235
EP - 243
JO - Current Tropical Medicine Reports
JF - Current Tropical Medicine Reports
IS - 4
ER -