Brain Abscess with Anaerobic Gram-Negative Bacilli: Case Series

Abstract

Brain abscess is usually of polymicrobial etiology involving aerobic and obligate anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria are mainly seen in brain abscesses secondary to otogenic and odontogenic source. Investigating for anaerobic etiology is usually neglected considering the tedious and time consuming process of anaerobic culture. It is necessary to perform anaerobic cultures along with routine aerobic cultures as a part of microbiological workup of abscess aspirates in patients with brain abscess which aid in providing appropriate antibiotic therapy. To highlight the significance of anaerobic cultures, we report four cases of brain abscess with anaerobic etiology from a tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka.