Subdural Empyema

An intracranial or rarely intraspinal suppurative process invading the space between the inner surface of the DURA MATER and the outer surface of the ARACHNOID. Bacteria and other pathogenic organisms may gain entrance to the subdural space from the FRONTAL SINUS; ETHMOID SINUS; middle ear (EAR, MIDDLE); MASTOID; or as the result of CRANIOCEREBRAL TRAUMA or NEUROSURGICAL PROCEDURES. This condition may be associated with intracranial sinus thrombosis (SINUS THROMBOSIS, INTRACRANIAL). Circumscribed collections of purulent material in the subdural space are referred to as subdural abscesses. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p709)

Also Known As:

Networked: 90 relevant articles (4 outcomes, 4 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Brain Abscess (Abscess, Brain)
2.	Abscess
3.	Discitis
4.	Gaucher Disease (Gaucher's Disease)
5.	Meningitis

Experts

1.	Montano, Nicola: 2 articles (03/2012 - 12/2011)
2.	Visocchi, Massimiliano: 2 articles (03/2012 - 12/2011)
3.	Esposito, Giuseppe: 2 articles (03/2012 - 12/2011)
4.	Della Pepa, Giuseppe Maria: 2 articles (03/2012 - 12/2011)
5.	Doglietto, Francesco: 2 articles (03/2012 - 12/2011)
6.	Nucci, Carlotta Ginevra: 2 articles (03/2012 - 12/2011)
7.	Mahapatra, A K: 2 articles (01/2007 - 09/2004)
8.	Hoshina, Takayuki: 1 article (08/2015)
9.	Nanishi, Etsuro: 1 article (08/2015)
10.	Nishio, Hisanori: 1 article (08/2015)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Subdural Empyema:

1.	Anti-Bacterial Agents (Antibiotics)IBA 06/01/2004 - "Patients with an extensive subdural empyema will have a good outcome if they are treated early and aggressively with antibiotics and burrhole evacuation." 12/01/2013 - "If a subdural empyema is identified, then intravenous antibiotics should be initiated, and immediate neurosurgical consultation should be obtained to consider operative drainage. " 11/01/2011 - "Two lumbar MRI conducted 62 hours apart revealed a newly developed subdural empyema that was successfully treated with surgical evacuation and post-operative antibiotics." 01/01/2004 - "The median duration of parenteral antibiotic treatment was 36, 41, 22, and 46 days in patients treated with excision, aspiration, evacuation of subdural empyema, and antibiotics alone, respectively. " 06/01/1986 - "Seven patients with subdural empyema were initially treated by antibiotics without surgery. "
2.	C-Reactive ProteinIBA 01/01/2002 - "In preliminary studies measurement of the serum C-reactive protein concentration has been shown to be an effective criterion for monitoring the response to antibacterial therapy in patients with spinal extradural abscesses, postoperative discitis, brain abscesses and subdural empyemas, thereby enabling patients to be treated successfully with courses of these drugs that are markedly shorter than those currently recommended."
3.	VancomycinFDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2009 - "We report 2 cases of recurring subdural empyema due to Streptococcus, after repeat surgery and high-dose antibiotic treatment including beta-lactamines and vancomycin. " 05/01/2010 - "Based on the diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis and subdural empyema developing from sinusitis primary to odontogenic infection, she received antibacterial chemotherapy with meropenem hydrate and vancomycin hydrochloride, after which motor aphasia and consciousness disturbance occurred. " 12/01/2007 - "Clinical and CSF findings of our case were, unresponsiveness to vancomycin, ceftriaxone and consecutive meropenem treatment while we still observed subdural empyema during these treatments. "
4.	GadoliniumIBA 10/01/1996 - "An initial computed tomography (CT) scan of the head was nondiagnostic whereas plain and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detected an extensive subdural empyema. " 06/01/2005 - "Gadolinium-enhanced MRI and DWI showed an interhemispheric subdural empyema and sinusitis. " 02/01/1992 - "We present a case of subdural empyema complicating bacterial meningitis in a 4 month old in which CT enhancement was not present yet magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans with gadolinium demonstrated intense enhancement. " 02/01/1992 - "Subdural empyema complicating bacterial meningitis in a child: enhancement of membranes with gadolinium on magnetic resonance imaging in a patient without enhancement on computed tomography."
5.	linezolid (Zyvox)FDA Link 01/01/2009 - "Linezolid for treatment of subdural empyema due to Streptococcus: case reports." 01/01/2009 - "Off-label use of linezolid for treatment of subdural empyema due to gram-positive bacteria should be considered after failure of conventional antibiotic treatment." 12/01/2007 - "Here, we present a 6-month-old boy with meningitis and subdural empyema which was unresponsive to more conventional agents but successfully treated with linezolid therapy. " 12/01/2007 - "Successful treatment with linezolid of meningitis complicated with subdural empyema in a 6-month-old boy." 11/01/2008 - "Glycopeptide insensitive Staphylococcus aureus subdural empyema treated with linezolid and rifampicin."
6.	Ceftriaxone (Ceftriaxon)FDA LinkGeneric 12/01/2009 - "The patient workup revealed a mild neutrophilic pleocytosis on cerebrospinal fluid (46 cells/microl), a positive stool culture for Salmonella pomona sensitive to ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin, and a subdural empyema (SDE) on the cerebral MRI. " 12/01/2007 - "Clinical and CSF findings of our case were, unresponsiveness to vancomycin, ceftriaxone and consecutive meropenem treatment while we still observed subdural empyema during these treatments. "
7.	meropenem (Merrem)FDA LinkGeneric 05/01/2010 - "Based on the diagnosis of bacterial meningoencephalitis and subdural empyema developing from sinusitis primary to odontogenic infection, she received antibacterial chemotherapy with meropenem hydrate and vancomycin hydrochloride, after which motor aphasia and consciousness disturbance occurred. " 12/01/2007 - "Clinical and CSF findings of our case were, unresponsiveness to vancomycin, ceftriaxone and consecutive meropenem treatment while we still observed subdural empyema during these treatments. "
8.	Oligoclonal BandsIBA 03/01/1990 - "Agarose gel electrophoresis and immunofixation of CSF and serum from 16 patients aged from 1 day to 13 years with CNS infectious diseases (5 with purulent meningitis, 5 with aseptic meningitis, 4 with acute encephalitis, 1 with subdural empyema and 1 with SSPE) revealed oligoclonal IgG bands in 10 cases. "
9.	Succinic Acid (Succinate)IBA 01/01/2005 - "This report describes a case of a 12-year-old child with cerebellitis and subdural empyema that manifested presence of succinate, acetate, lactate, and amino acids on in vivo (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy from a large area of restricted diffusion in the vermis on diffusion-weighted imaging, a finding specific for bacteria-induced infection. "
10.	Lactic AcidFDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2005 - "This report describes a case of a 12-year-old child with cerebellitis and subdural empyema that manifested presence of succinate, acetate, lactate, and amino acids on in vivo (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy from a large area of restricted diffusion in the vermis on diffusion-weighted imaging, a finding specific for bacteria-induced infection. "

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Craniotomy 04/01/1993 - "These results compare favorably with those reported in other studies using craniotomy alone, and suggest that burr holes should not be disregarded as a method of treating subdural empyema where contrast-enhanced CT facilities are available." 03/01/2012 - "Subdural empyema (SDE) is an uncommon complication of paranasal sinisutis, for which craniotomy and decompressive craniotomy are the most effective surgical procedures. " 12/01/2011 - "Subdural empyema (SDE) is an uncommon complication of paranasal sinisutis, for which craniotomy and decompressive craniotomy are the most effective surgical procedures. " 08/01/2010 - "A left fronto-parietal craniotomy was performed and the subdural empyema was evacuated, and adjacent calvarium was normal. " 03/01/2005 - "A large frontotemporoparietal craniotomy was carried out and the subdural empyema filled with numerous brownish-black, uncharacteristic tissue fragments together with the partially calcified and ossified capsule was removed. "
2.	Catheters 06/01/2008 - "Imaging studies subsequently revealed a subdural empyema related to epidural migration of a central venous catheter (CVL). " 01/01/1987 - "Although the surgical management of subdural empyemas remains controversial, it appears that burr hole and catheter drainage is sufficient in most cases. " 04/01/1985 - "Postoperatively, the patient did well, however, following removal of the catheter, three weeks after the first operation, the subdural empyema was reexpanded with a very thick enhancing rim on CT scan. " 04/01/2005 - "Subdural empyema combined with paraspinal abscess after epidural catheter insertion." 07/01/1996 - "We therefore recommend burr hole with catheter drainage plus antibiotics as a method of treating subdural empyema."
3.	Decompressive Craniectomy 09/01/2002 - "Fulminant subdural empyema treated with a wide decompressive craniectomy and continuous irrigation--case report." 07/01/2002 - "Emergency bifrontal decompressive craniectomy was necessary both to reduce the intracranial pressure and to drain the subdural empyema. " 07/01/2002 - "Bifrontal decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural empyema." 12/01/2011 - "Internal decompressive craniectomy with craniotomy: a novel surgical therapy of giant frontal mucocele complicated by subdural empyema."
4.	Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt 06/01/2009 - "Giant hemicranial calcified subdural empyema--unusual complication following ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion." 03/01/1979 - "Subdural empyema secondary to ventriculo-peritoneal shunt." 01/01/2015 - "Co-presentation of a subdural empyema and an infected ventriculoperitoneal shunt in an adult patient: A rare complication with review of literature."
5.	Tooth Extraction (Tooth Extractions) 01/01/2014 - "The occurrence of subdural empyema is an uncommon but possible sequela of a complicated tooth extraction. " 01/01/2000 - "Subdural empyema after tooth extraction in which Capnocytophaga species was isolated."