(^220) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
capsulated within 10 to 14 days from the onset of the infection. The infections are
typically streptococci, staphylococci, anaerobes, or mixed-organism infections.
Immunocompromised patients may have fungal or yeast present in the abscess. Up
to 20 percent of the patients may have more than one abscess.
PROGNOSIS
Identification of the organism and appropriate treatment is imperative to resolution
of the infection. There is a significant mortality rate in these patients.
HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Drowsiness due to increased intracranial pressure
- Headache due to increased intracranial pressure
- Confusion or inattention
- Seizures due to irritation of brain tissue
- Increasing intracranial pressure
- Widened pulse pressure and bradycardia due to increased intracranial pressure
- Focal neurologic deficit, depending on location of abscess
- Nystagmus with cerebral abscess
- Aphasia with frontal lobe abscess
- Loss of coordination (ataxia) with a cerebellar abscess
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS
- CBC elevated white blood cell count due to bacterial presence.
- CT scan shows area of abscess site differentiated from surrounding tissue.
- MRI shows area of abscess site possibly earlier than CT scan.
- Biopsy to positively identify organism.
TREATMENT
- Surgically drain (aspiration or open) the abscess to relieve intracranial
pressure.