1. Spontaneous cerebral abscess due to Bacillus subtilis in an immunocompetent male patient: A case report and review of literature
- Author
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Stelios F Assimakopoulos, Fevronia Kolonitsiou, Markos Marangos, Georgios Gatzounis, Ioannis Tsonis, Panagiota Xaplanteri, Petros Zampakis, and Lydia Karamani
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,030106 microbiology ,Bacillus subtilis ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Case report ,medicine ,Meningitis ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Abscess ,Brain abscess ,Craniotomy ,biology ,business.industry ,fungi ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,medicine.disease ,Central nervous system infection ,Surgery ,Male patient ,business - Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) is considered a non-pathogenic microorganism of the genus Bacillus and a common laboratory contaminant. Only scarce reports of B. subtilis central nervous system infection have been reported, mainly in the form of pyogenic meningitis, usually in cases of direct inoculation by trauma or iatrogenically. CASE SUMMARY A 51-year-old man, with a free previous medical history, presented to the Emergency Department of our hospital complaining of recurrent episodes of left upper limb weakness, during the last month, which had been worsened the last 48 h. During his presentation in Emergency Department he experienced a generalized tonic-clonic grand mal seizure. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with intravenous Gadolinium revealed a 3.3 cm × 2.7 cm lesion at the right parietal lobe surrounded by mild vasogenic edema, which included the posterior central gyrus. The core of the lesion showed relatively homogenous restricted diffusion. Post Gadolinium T1W1 image, revealed a ring-shaped enhancement. Due to the imaging findings, brain abscess was our primary consideration. Detailed examination for clinical signs of infectious foci revealed only poor oral hygiene with severe tooth decay and periodontal disease, but without detection of dental abscess. The patient underwent surgical treatment with right parietal craniotomy and total excision of the lesion. Pus and capsule tissue grew B. subtilis and according to antibiogram intravenous ceftriaxone 2 g bids was administered for 4 wk. The patient remained asymptomatic and follow-up MRI scan two months after operation showed complete removal of the abscess. CONCLUSION This case highlights the ultimate importance of appropriate oral hygiene and dental care to avoid potentially serious infectious complications and second, B. subtilis should not be considered merely as laboratory contaminant especially when cultivated by appropriate central nervous system specimen.
- Published
- 2018