Author(s)

Hazel Serrao-Brown

The Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australia.

Infections, including intracranial abscesses, are a well-known and potentially serious complication of intravenous drug abuse. There have been increasing reports of intravenous misuse of transdermal Fentanyl, with severe sequelae. Intracranial abscesses in intravenous drug users tend to involve uncommon pathogens, and may present with atypical symptoms, which can lead to delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment. We present the case of a 28-year-old female, with a history of intravenous misuse of transdermal Fentanyl, who was found to have intracranial abscesses with Fusobacterium nucleatum and Nocardia species, causing significant vasogenic oedema and mass effect.

Intracranial Abscess, Transdermal Fentanyl, Intravenous Drug Use

Serrao-Brown, H. (2018) Intracranial Abscess Post Intravenous Misuse of Transdermal Fentanyl in an Immunocompetent Patient. Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery, 8, 143-146. doi: 10.4236/ojmn.2018.82012.