Cryptogenic brain abscess due to community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We report a case of cryptogenic brain abscess caused by infection due to communityassociated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in a previously healthy, 2-year-old, girl child with a history of persistent headache and fever for several weeks. Headache acutely worsened the day before hospital admission with vomiting, right hemiparesis, and altered sensorium. Community-onset pyogenic brain abscess should be added to the growing list of life-threatening invasive infections caused by community-acquired S. aureus. Early diagnosis, prompt neurosurgical drainage, and appropriate medical therapy are important for management of such infections. In light of expanding community-acquired S. aureus epidemic and the life-threatening nature of the disease we recommend empirical use of vancomycin in all cases of community onset brain abscess.