Brain Abscess: A Rare Clinical Case with Oral Etiology

Brain abscess is a very rare condition but has a significant mortality rate. The three main routes of inoculation are trauma, contiguous focus, and the hematogenous route. The odontogenic focus is infrequent and is usually a diagnosis of exclusion. This paper presents a brain abscess case proven to be of dental origin, caused by Actinomyces meyeri and Fusobacterium nucleatum. This case highlights the risk underlying untreated dental disease and why oral infectious foci removal and good oral health are essential in primary care.

Brain Abscess of Dental Origin: A Case Report and Literature Review

Introduction: Brain abscess (BA)of dental origin is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of odontogenic infection that requires immediate neurosurgical attention. It is defined as an encapsulated collection of pus in various areas of the brain. The infectious process spreads from the dental site and occurs in 2 ways: haematogenous route or by contiguity. Treatment should ideally be based on the etiological factor excision, combined with drainage and adjuvant antibiotic therapy. The aim of this article was to report a case of frontal brain abscess of dental origin and to review the literature. Case report: We present the case of a 36-year-old man diagnosed with a brain abscess located in the frontal lobe and caused by a periodontal lesion of the right upper first molar. The final diagnosis was established due to the availability of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Drainage of the pus combined with extraction of the tooth and antibiotic therapy was followed by an excellent recovery. Clinical and radiological features, treatment and follow-up data were documented. A review of the literature using the PubMed database was performed Conclusion: Oral infections can lead to life-threatening infections, such as brain abscesses. Early detection of this condition through correct diagnosis is essential to give the patient the best treatment; in addition, improving of the oral environment and treating oral infections is highly recommended to limit this serious condition.

Ketoacidosis Secondary to Dento-Alveolar Infection in a Diabetic Pediatric Patient

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common complication of type I and occasionally type II diabetes mellitus. Patients with DKA require intensive multidisciplinary care involving dental surgeons and endocrine physicians in a hospital setting. The association between diabetes mellitus and oral infections is very common and infection is a well-recognized trigger of DKA. Yet very few cases of DKA secondary to dental infections have been reported in the literature. We, herein, report an interesting case of a pediatric patient presenting with ketoacidosis secondary to acute cervical adenophlegmon of dental origin.

Surgical management of an odontogenic cutaneous sinus tract misdiagnosed for 4 years

A cutaneous sinus tract of dental origin may easily be misdiagnosed and incorrectly treated. This paper reported a case of a 20-years-old male patient referred for a productive cutaneous sinus tract misdiagnosed by medical doctors for more than 4 years. The clinical and radiographic examinations confirmed the odontogenic origin

A commentary on a flawed public health investigation

The possibility of hepatitis C being transmitted between dental patients was the genesis of an extensive and expensive look-back investigation conducted by an Ontario Public Health Unit. This investigation was performed with a minimal knowledge of nosocomial infections of dental origin, an enthusiastic reliance on untested checklist indicators and an absence of any of the criteria justifying such an investigation. As a consequence, the entire exercise was based on the false premise that an infection control lapse had occurred. This commentary will address these flaws, and other aspects of the Public Health Unit’s response that detracted from its credibility. The provision of a realistic assessment of disease transmission in dentistry should result in Public Health Units conducting informed and mutually beneficial inspections of dental practices.

Eye damage due to dental disease

Recently, a lot of space has been given in the literature to the question of oral sepsis; the possibility of disease of any organ and in particular the eye in the presence of an infectious focus of dental origin is considered established by experimental work and clinical observations.