Cerebral Abscess Due to Nocardia beijingensis Associated With HIV: Case Report and Mini Review

Cureus. 2023 Oct 24;15(10):e47571. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47571. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Brain abscesses are severe focal infections of the central nervous system. We report the case of a 37-year-old patient with a recent diagnosis of HIV, who presented with weakness in the left arm that progressed to left hemiplegia, ipsilateral paresthesia, holo cranial headache, fever accompanied by chills, and left tonic-clonic movements. A craniectomy and lesion resection were performed along with antimicrobial treatment. Subsequently, the patient persisted with left hemiplegia, which significantly improved after the procedure and gradually through physical physiotherapy. During the investigation, we complete medical history, physical examination, Image tests, laboratory tests, and cultures. After the finalization of the approach, the final diagnosis was a brain abscess due to Nocardia beijingensis associated with HIV. The patient was managed with anticonvulsants: levetiracetam, antimicrobials: ceftriaxone, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, metronidazole, and vancomycin, Craniotomy plus resection of two brain abscesses, Steroidal anti-inflammatory: dexamethasone and antiretroviral therapy. With this, the patient was discharged successfully from the hospital.

Keywords: brain abscess; general internal medicine; hiv-associated infection; infec; infectology; nocardia brain infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports