Remarkable recovery in an infant with brain abscesses

Bacteria causing the infection include Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and group A S aureus: the relative frequencies of the different causative organisms vary by geographical location. Predisposing factors for a child developing a brain abscess include malnutrition, low socioeconomic class, HIV infection, congenital heart disease, and being immunocompromised. Importantly, children who have been treated for the initial infection need long-term follow-up to monitor for sequelae such as hearing and visual loss, epilepsy, and motor and behavioural problems.