Brain abscess management

see also Brain abscess treatment.

Obtain blood cultures.

see Blood culture for brain abscess.

Initiate antibiotic therapy, preferably after specimen obtained.

Avoid LP.

Anticonvulsants: Indicated for seizures, prophylactic use is optional.

Steroids: Controversial. Reduces edema , but may impede therapy.

see Antibiotics for Brain Abscess.

see Steroids for Brain Abscess.

If therapy is successful, imaging should decrease in:

1. Degree of ring enhancement.

2. Edema

3. Mass effect

4. Size of lesion: takes 1 to 4 weeks (2,5 mean). 95 % of lesions that will resolve with antibiotics alone decrease in size by 1 month.