Epidural Abscess

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Background

An epidural abscess is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease that requires early detection and prompt management. It is defined as an inflammation that involves a collection of pus between the dura (the outer membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord) and the bones of the skull or spine. Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) and intracranial epidural abscess (IEA) are the two types of epidural abscess, and the difference is based on where they develop within the CNS and some variations in risk factors (see Pathophysiology) and symptoms (see History).

A loose association between the dura and vertebral bodies enables extension of spinal epidural abscess to numerous levels, frequently resulting in extensive neurological findings and often necessitating multiple laminectomies. The lumbar and thoracic spine are more commonly affected than the cervical spine.

Tight adherence of the dura to the skull limits expansion of intracranial epidural abscess, often resulting in dangerously increased intracranial pressure, which is a neurosurgical emergency.

Early recognition of these diseases and timely consultation with a neurosurgeon and infectious disease specialist is vital to optimizing the neurological outcome.

Pathophysiology

Spinal epidural abscess

Causes of spinal epidural abscess

Ten to thirty percent of spinal epidural abscesses result from direct extension of local infection, usually vertebral osteomyelitis, psoas abscess, or contiguous soft-tissue infection.[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

About half are due to hematogenous seeding. The most likely source is a soft-tissue process, but anything capable of causing bacteremia can result in spinal epidural abscess (endocarditis, urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infections, intravenous drug use, vascular access devices). Hematogenous seeding of the spinal epidural abscess can result in multilevel noncontiguous spinal epidural abscess.

Fifteen to twenty-seven percent of spinal epidural abscesses are due to invasive procedures or instrumentation. Spinal surgery, epidural anesthesia, steroid and pain-relieving injections, and placement of pain pumps are all associated with spinal epidural abscess. Short-term epidural anesthesia is much less risky than a catheter left in place for days or permanently implanted. Rates of infection after intraoperative epidural block are about 1 in 2,000, while longer-duration (days) epidural pain catheter placement may be associated with rates of infection as high as 4.3%. Simple epidural injections rarely cause infection; the risk has been estimated at 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 60,000 injections.

In some cases (up to 30% in some series), the source of the spinal epidural abscess is not identified.

Risk factors for spinal epidural abscess

The most common risk factor for spinal epidural abscess is diabetes mellitus, followed by spinal trauma (may be remote) or surgery, intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, renal insufficiency, immunosuppression (including infection, steroid use, cirrhosis, and malignancy), central lines, implantable devices (eg, pacemakers), pregnancy, and spinal/epidural anesthesia or injections.[1, 2, 8, 9, 7]

Intravenous drug use seems to represent an increasing risk factor in many series.

Anatomy of spinal epidural abscess

Most abscesses occur posteriorly. An anterior location is often associated with vertebral osteomyelitis or a psoas abscess.[1, 2]

The thoracic and lumbar areas are the most likely sites of involvement, with the cervical spine accounting for approximately 20% of cases.[5]

Spread to multiple vertebral levels is common and occurs as the abscess extends up and down the spinal dural sheath. In some cases, this process involves most or all of the spine.

Mechanism of injury

Direct compression of the cord is clearly a major factor.[1]

Vascular occlusion due septic thrombophlebitis and/or vasculitis is also a factor

The exact mechanism of injury remains controversial.

Intracranial epidural abscess

Because intracranial epidural abscess can cross the cranial dura along emissary veins, an accompanying subdural empyema is often present.[6]

Risk factors for intracranial epidural abscess include prior craniotomy, head injury, sinusitis, otitis media, and mastoiditis.[10, 11]

Epidemiology

Frequency

United States

The annual incidence of spinal epidural abscess has risen in the past 2-3 decades from 0.2-1 cases per 10,000 hospital admissions to 2.5-5.1 per 10,000 admissions.[1, 7] The rising incidence of spinal epidural abscess has been attributed to the increasing prevalence of injection drug use, as well as to an increased performance of invasive spinal procedures.

The annual incidence of intracranial epidural abscess is difficult to determine but is recognized to be much less common than spinal epidural abscess.

International

Few data on epidural abscesses are available outside the United States, but the frequency appears to be similar to that in the United States.

Mortality/Morbidity

Spinal epidural abscess: At the beginning of the 20th century, almost all individuals with spinal epidural abscess died. However, associated mortality rates have dropped significantly over the past 50 years, likely because of better diagnostic modalities. Nonetheless, despite advances in imaging and surgical care, the current mortality rate ranges from 2%-20%.[1, 2, 9, 7] Not surprisingly, the mortality risk is greater in those with severe underlying comorbidities or uncontrolled sepsis. Differences in etiology (ie, iatrogenic vs noniatrogenic) do not affect the prognosis. The essential problem of spinal epidural abscess lies in the necessity of early diagnosis, as permanent neurological deficits and possible mortality can be avoided or reduced only with timely treatment.

Intracranial epidural abscess: With antibiotic and surgical management, intracranial epidural abscess carries a good prognosis, with an attributable mortality rate of less than 10%.

The neurological status of the patient at the time of diagnosis is the best predictor of neurological outcome, and morbidity is increased in both conditions when indicated surgery is delayed.[1, 2, 11] Comorbidities also often impact the outcome.

Sex

Most studies report that epidural abscess is more common in males than in females.

Age

Spinal epidural abscess can occur at any age. The median age of onset of spinal epidural abscess is approximately 50-60 years.

Intracranial epidural abscess is most common in the second and third decades of life.

Prognosis

The degree of neurologic recovery after surgery correlates with the duration and initial severity of the neurologic defect.

Spinal epidural abscess carries a mortality rate of 2%-20%; intracranial epidural abscess, about 10% (see Mortality). Eight percent of survivors were left paralyzed in one large 2017 series.[7]

A worse outcome has been observed in patients with the following:[1]

Patient Education

For patient education resources, see the Infections Center and Brain and Nervous System Center, as well as Brain Infection and Antibiotics.

History

Spinal epidural abscess

Most symptoms of a spinal epidural abscess are due to enlargement of the abscess and surrounding inflammation, which can lead to tissue compression and spinal cord ischemia. Onset of symptoms usually occurs within hours to days but may be more chronic in nature, presenting with weeks to months of symptoms. The microbiology often dictates the pace of progression.[1, 9]

Back or neck pain is the most common symptom in individuals with spinal epidural abscess, occurring in 70%-100% of cases.

The classic diagnostic triad of fever, spinal pain, and neurological deficits is present in only 10-15% of cases at first physician contact and must not be relied on for diagnosis. Significant back or neck pain coupled neurologic deficits, Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, recent surgery/injections, or unexplained elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) should prompt an MRI without delay to facilitate diagnosis.[12]

If left untreated, the progression of symptoms is usually sequential and forms the basis for the staging of spinal epidural abscess (see Staging): (1) back pain; (2) radicular irritation; (3) motor weakness, sphincter dysfunction, sensory changes; and, finally, (4) paralysis. Note that this progression may occur very rapidly, and some symptoms may be skipped.

The patient's neurological status at the time of diagnosis is the most accurate predictor of outcome and prognosis.

Intracranial epidural abscess

The symptoms of intracranial epidural abscess are generally more acute but may be difficult to discern from the inciting process (eg, sinusitis, postoperative infection). When intracranial epidural abscess is combined with a subdural empyema, as is often the case, the course is compressed.[10, 11]

Signs and symptoms are due to both infection and the slowly expanding intracranial mass. Fever, headache, malaise, lethargy, nausea, and vomiting may be present. Intracranial epidural abscesses due to sinus infections can cause purulent drainage from the nose or ear.

Patients without a history of recent cranial manipulation who develop intracranial epidural abscess present with encephalopathy and focal neurological deficits. Most patients who have undergone craniotomy (67%) tend to be afebrile at presentation, and their neurological deficits are often less severe and less acute, with more than 90% showing evidence of wound infection.

Physical

Findings associated with spinal epidural abscess from multiple studies include the following[1] :

Findings associated with intracranial epidural abscess include the following:[10, 11]

Causes

The microbiologic causes of spinal epidural abscess and intracranial epidural abscess are considered separately.

S aureus infection causes most cases of spinal epidural abscess. This is followed in frequency by streptococcal and Enterobacteriaceae infections. Coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections are observed almost exclusively in the context of recent spinal instrumentation or other medical procedures. The most common organisms that cause spinal epidural abscess include the following[1, 9, 13, 14] :

In intracranial epidural abscess, upper-respiratory bacterial pathogens predominate in sinus-associated disease, whereas nosocomial pathogens are of concern in cases that develop after craniotomy. The most common causative organisms include the following:

Complications

Death or permanent neurologic sequelae occur in a substantial proportion of patients with epidural abscess, especially those who present with major neurological deficits or sepsis. In a large 2017 series, 7% died and 8% were left paralyzed.[7]

Laboratory Studies

Routine tests

The CBC count may reveal leukocytosis, left shift, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Only about two thirds of patients who present with spinal epidural abscess have leukocytosis at the time of initial evaluation.

The ESR and CRP are almost invariably elevated; this is a nonspecific finding.

Always obtain blood cultures, as they are positive in 60% of cases.[1, 2, 8, 7]

Abscess fluid/operative material

Perform Gram staining and routine aerobic and anaerobic cultures on aspirated or surgically obtained abscess fluid.

Special stains and cultures for mycobacteria and fungi are indicated.

Consider Brucella cultures and serologies when this is a possibility; alert laboratory personnel that Brucella may be involved so they can take precautions.

Imaging Studies

MRI is the cornerstone of diagnosis in both intracranial epidural abscess and spinal epidural abscess. MRI has the greatest diagnostic accuracy and is the method of first choice in the diagnostic process.[1, 15, 16] The sensitivity of MRI is 90%-95%, and its specificity also exceeds 90%. In some cases, MRI findings are indeterminate, necessitating a repeat of the study. Gadolinium enhancement increases sensitivity for detecting spinal epidural abscess, even in the absence of contiguous bony infection, and enables better differentiation between abscess and surrounding neurological structures.

CT scanning with intravenous contrast may demonstrate fluid collections in the epidural space (see image below). CT scanning is the procedure of choice when MRI cannot be performed.



View Image

CT scan showing a lenticular-shaped intracranial epidural abscess.

When combined with myelography, CT scanning is a fairly sensitive tool to diagnose spinal epidural abscess, but it carries considerable risk, including introduction of infection, bleeding, nerve injury, and spinal shock. Myelography may underestimate the length of a spinal epidural abscess and carries a risk of paralysis.

Plain radiographs may demonstrate osteomyelitis or vertebral collapse. While these should be performed in all cases, they are never enough to establish the diagnosis.

Procedures

Make every effort to establish a microbiological diagnosis. Blood cultures are positive in 60% of patients with spinal epidural abscess and are essential.[2, 7]

CT-guided needle aspiration may be used to obtain material for analysis.

Surgical specimens must be stained and cultured appropriately (see Causes).

Lumbar puncture is generally not indicated in spinal epidural abscess and carries the risk of spreading the bacteria into the subarachnoid space, with consequent meningitis. It is contraindicated in intracranial epidural abscess because of the high risk of cerebellar tonsillar herniation due to increased intracranial pressure. When obtained in spinal epidural abscess, lumbar puncture usually reveals a nonspecific parameningeal infection picture, with elevated protein levels, normal or slightly depressed glucose levels, and modest pleocytosis. Results may also be normal or indicative of frank bacterial meningitis. Culture results may be positive in up to 25% of cases, but almost all of these patients have positive blood cultures.[2]

Staging

A staging system for the progression of spinal epidural abscess exists and may be of some diagnostic value, but it must be stressed that not all patients move sequentially through the stages, and that deterioration may be rapid.[1]

  1. Back pain, tenderness, and fever
  2. Radicular pain, reflex abnormalities
  3. Sensory abnormalities, motor weakness, bowel and bladder problems
  4. Paralysis, which rapidly becomes permanent without surgical intervention

Medical Care

Spinal epidural abscess

A combined medical-surgical approach, with emergent surgical decompression and drainage of purulent material, has been the standard approach to spinal epidural abscess. Antibiotic-based therapy, sometimes combined with CT-directed needle aspiration, has traditionally been used only in patients who are determined to be at prohibitively high risk of surgery or who have a fixed paralysis that lasts more than 48-72 hours and that is presumed to be irreversible.

In recent years, wider use of antibiotic-based, nonsurgical therapy for spinal epidural abscess has been advocated,[17, 18, 19] condemned,[20, 21] and cautiously discussed.[22, 23, 24, 25, 26] The current literature on the subject consists largely of small case series and remains inadequate to resolve the controversy.[1, 2, 27] Various prediction criteria advocated to predict failure of medical management[25, 26] have been published, but their value has been questioned.[28]

If medical therapy is to be used as initial therapy for spinal epidural abscess and surgery held in reserve, a number of caveats apply, as follows:

Empirical antibiotic therapy should include coverage of gram-positive cocci, particularly staphylococci (including MRSA), and gram-negative bacilli. Vancomycin has been the standard agent for gram-positive infections, although linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline, or tigecycline could be considered. The third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins and meropenem offer excellent gram-positive (except MRSA) and gram-negative coverage in addition to CNS penetration.

Pending cultures, a combination of agents (vancomycin plus cefepime or similar) is needed. Additional coverage may be needed if some of the less-common etiologic agents (see Causes) are suspected. Always tailor coverage once culture data are available; for example, nafcillin is a much better drug for MSSA infections than vancomycin. Note that failures due to the development of resistance have occurred when daptomycin alone was used for MRSA spinal epidural abscess.[33] Experience with ceftaroline for these infections is extremely limited, but this maybe a useful second-line MRSA agent,[34, 35] especially when combined with vancomycin or daptomycin.

Intracranial epidural abscess

A combined medical-surgical approach is used for intracranial epidural abscess. A craniotomy is usually performed. Empiric antibiotic therapy is similar to that described for spinal epidural abscess; since many of these infections result from prior interventions, the possibility of more-resistant nosocomial organisms must be considered. Vancomycin plus cefepime or meropenem would be good starting choices, with metronidazole added to the cefepime if anaerobes are a major concern.

Surgical Care

Prompt decompression is used to manage intracranial epidural abscess, as it is uniformly considered a neurosurgical emergency.

As discussed in detail above, most patients with spinal epidural abscess require urgent decompressive laminectomy; other surgical techniques may be preferred in certain situations.[36] In some patients without neurologic deficits, medical therapy might be cautiously attempted, recognizing that disastrous outcomes may ensue from this conservative approach (see Medical Therapy). CT-guided drainage might be helpful in some cases of posterior spinal epidural abscess, but the literature on this is scant.

Consultations

Emergent consultation with a neurosurgeon is mandatory for surgical decompression and drainage of purulent material in patients with intracranial epidural abscess. Emergent surgical intervention is needed in most patients with spinal epidural abscess, and prompt consultation and tight follow-up are mandatory in those in whom surgery is deferred (see Treatment). Consultation with an infectious disease specialist is strongly recommended for both diagnostic and therapeutic assistance.

Long-Term Monitoring

Follow-up MRI should be obtained if any clinical deterioration is noted in patients with an intracranial epidural abscess or spinal epidural abscess. Follow-up MRI at 2-4 weeks should be performed in patients with spinal epidural abscess undergoing exclusively medical treatment to ensure the abscess has improved. It is unclear whether surgically treated patients with spinal epidural abscess who are doing well require follow-up MRI, as the MRI findings often correlate poorly with the clinical course.[37]

Follow-up with the neurosurgeon is needed.

Follow-up with an infectious diseases specialist is advised to monitor intravenous antibiotics.

Further Inpatient Care

Frequent neurological examination is warranted during the postsurgical recovery period and is especially critical in patients undergoing medical treatment for spinal epidural abscess.

Fever, leukocytosis, or new neurological deficit necessitates repeated imaging, and further (or initial) surgical exploration may be required.[36]

Follow-up MRIs to evaluate spinal epidural abscess in patients who are doing well may not be helpful, as the findings may not correlate well with clinical course.[37]

Physical therapy may be necessary for individuals with a residual neurological deficit.

Transfer

In the United States, by law, any unstable patient must be stabilized to the extent possible, including consultation and surgery, if indicated, before transfer.

Medication Summary

The duration of antibiotic therapy is not well defined, but 4-12 weeks is generally considered adequate. Concomitant osteomyelitis requires a 6- to 12-week course. A transition to highly bioavailable oral agents might be appropriate in some cases; rely on an infectious disease specialist consultant for guidance. (See Medical Treatment for empiric selections.) Monitoring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) value may be helpful, as control of infection is usually associated with normalization of the nonspecific markers. Note that some patients are cured despite stubbornly elevated CRP/ESR values, but stopping therapy with high or rising values should always give one pause.

Ceftriaxone (Rocephin)

Clinical Context:  Third-generation cephalosporin with fair gram-negative and gram-positive activity. Superior CNS penetration. Arrests bacterial growth by binding to one or more penicillin-binding proteins. Does not cover MRSA, Pseudomonas species, or resistant nosocomial enterics.

Ceftazidime (Ceptaz, Fortaz)

Clinical Context:  Third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum, gram-negative activity (including Pseudomonas species). Poor efficacy against gram-positive organisms and some resistant gram-negative organisms. Arrests bacterial growth by binding to one or more penicillin-binding proteins.

Meropenem (Merrem IV)

Clinical Context:  Bactericidal broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic that inhibits cell wall synthesis. Effective against most gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with excellent CNS penetration. Has slightly increased activity against gram-negative bacteria and slightly decreased activity against staphylococci and streptococci compared with imipenem, but much less likely than imipenem to cause seizures.

Metronidazole (Flagyl, Protostat)

Clinical Context:  Imidazole ring-based antibiotic active against various anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Not active against any aerobes. Must be used in combination for most bacterial infections.

Vancomycin (Lyphocin, Vancocin)

Clinical Context:  Potent antibiotic directed against most gram-positive organisms and active against most Enterococcus species. Indicated in patients who cannot receive or have failed to respond to penicillins and cephalosporins or who have infections with MRSA or another susceptible gram-positive organism.

Nafcillin (Nafcil, Unipen)

Clinical Context:  A penicillin used almost exclusively for MSSA. Is not effective against MRSA infections. Do not use empirically when MRSA infection is possible.

Class Summary

Empiric antimicrobial therapy must be comprehensive and cover all likely pathogens. Antibiotic combinations, usually vancomycin or another MRSA agent plus a broad gram-negative agent, are recommended in both intracranial epidural abscess and spinal epidural abscess while awaiting culture data. This approach ensures coverage for a broad range of organisms and polymicrobial infections. Once organisms and sensitivities are known, antibiotic monotherapy is recommended.

What is an epidural abscess?What causes spinal epidural abscess?What are the risk factors for spinal epidural abscess?What is the anatomy of spinal epidural abscess?What is the mechanism of injury in epidural abscess?What are the risk factors for intracranial epidural abscess?What is the prevalence of epidural abscess in the US?What is the global prevalence of epidural abscess?What are the mortality rates for epidural abscess?What is the sexual predilection of epidural abscess?Which age groups have the highest prevalence of epidural abscess?What is the prognosis of epidural abscess?Which clinical history findings are characteristic of spinal epidural abscess?Which clinical history findings are characteristic of intracranial epidural abscess?Which physical findings are characteristic of spinal epidural abscess?Which physical findings are characteristic of intracranial epidural abscess?What causes spinal epidural abscess?What causes intracranial epidural abscess?What are the possible complications of epidural abscess?What are the differential diagnoses for Epidural Abscess?What is the role of lab testing in the diagnosis of epidural abscess?What is the role of imaging studies in the diagnosis of epidural abscess?How are specimens obtained for a microbiological diagnosis of epidural abscess?What is the role of lumbar puncture in the diagnosis of epidural abscess?How is an epidural abscess staged?How is a spinal epidural abscess treated?How are antibiotics selected for the treatment for epidural abscess?How is an intracranial epidural abscess treated?What is the role of surgery in the treatment of epidural abscess?Which specialists should be consulted in the treatment of epidural abscess?What is included in the long-term monitoring of patients with epidural abscess?What is included in inpatient care for epidural abscess?What steps must be taken prior to transfer of a patient with epidural abscess?What is the role of medications in the treatment of epidural abscess?Which medications in the drug class Antibiotics are used in the treatment of Epidural Abscess?

Author

Mark R Wallace, MD, FACP, FIDSA, Infectious Disease Physician, Skagit Valley Hospital, Skagit Regional Health

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Aadia Rana, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Gopala K Yadavalli, MD, Residency Educator, Department of Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editors

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Chief Editor

Pranatharthi Haran Chandrasekar, MBBS, MD, Professor, Chief of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Fred A Lopez, MD, Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Louisiana State University School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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CT scan showing a lenticular-shaped intracranial epidural abscess.

CT scan showing a lenticular-shaped intracranial epidural abscess.