Brain Abscess Caused by Bacteroides Infection:  Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

DESPITE the fact that Bacteroides organisms have been observed in various human infections since the turn of the century, their importance as pathogens of the central nervous system has only recently been recognized. Bacteroides organisms are strictly anaerobic, nonspore-forming, gramnegative bacilli, which occur most abundantly in the nasopharynx and in the female genital and gastrointestinal tracts; they are believed more numerous than Escherichia coli in the latter region. This genus occurs frequently in mixed colonies with anaerobic and microaerophilic streptococci and is difficult to isolate.¹ Early identification of Bacteroides bacilli is of considerable importance since treatment with newer antibiotics and appropriate surgery have proved quite effective.^1-5 It is the purpose of this report to describe a case of Bacteroides brain abscess and to review some diagnostic, microbiological, and therapeutic problems unique to this infection.

Report of a Case  A 46-year-old white female patient was admitted to the