Use of external ventriculostomy and intrathecal anti-fungal treatment in cerebral mucormycotic abscess

Benjamin L. Grannan, Vijay Yanamadala, Andrew S. Venteicher, Brian P. Walcott, John C. Barr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection associated with a high mortality. Cerebral mucor abscesses can result secondary to rhinocerebral or hematogenous spread. Amphotericin B, posaconazole, and aggressive surgical resection are the hallmarks of treatment. While amphotericin is typically administered intravenously, less is known about the use of intrathecal amphotericin B. We describe a 42-year-old man who developed a cerebellar mucor abscess after undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome. In the post-operative period he was admitted to the neurocritical care unit and received liposomal amphotericin B intravenously and through an external ventricular drain. This patient demonstrates that utilization of an external ventricular drain for intrathecal antifungal therapy in the post-operative period may warrant further study in patients with difficult to treat intracranial fungal abscesses.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1819-1821
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Clinical Neuroscience
Volume21
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Amphotericin
  • External ventricular drain
  • Intrathecal
  • Mucormycosis
  • Neurocritical care

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Use of external ventriculostomy and intrathecal anti-fungal treatment in cerebral mucormycotic abscess'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this