Polymicrobial brain abscess in a homosexual man with kaposi’s sarcoma

A progressive visual field defect and fever occurred in a 39-year-old homosexual man with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma. Computerized tomography of the brain documented a left parieto-occipital abscess. A specimen obtained at the time of surgical excision of the lesion revealed organisms with morphologic features of Toxoplasma gondii and Candida. Culture of this material grew Staphylococcus epidermidis. Appropriate therapy for this polymicrobial infection resulted in resolution of the fever and clinical improvement. The visual deficit remained unchanged despite antimicrobial therapy.