Brain abscesses in infants are extremely rare and occur as an uncommon complication
of bacterial meningitis or sepsis. This case is of a 29 week male premature infant
with a diagnosis of a brain abscess at 63 days of life secondary to methicillin-resistant
staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) which evolved after a fairly unremarkable neonatal
intensive care unit course. Cultures of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood yielded
no growth. He was found to be colonized with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus
aureus on routine surveillance cultures after transfer from an outside hospital. The
infant required a temporary external ventricular drain for hydrocephalus and compression
of the brainstem secondary to the mass effect. He is currently developing favorably
at 14 months after undergoing prolonged treatment with Vancomycin and Rifampin.
Keywords
Brain abscess - MRSA - premature infant
