What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the association between patent foramen ovale and pyogenic brain abscess characteristics, and to assess mortality rates in these patients.

January 20, 2026Open Forum Infectious Diseases0 citationsOpen Access

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Patent Foramen Ovale and Pyogenic Brain Abscess

KAKhalid Abu-ZeinahMayo Clinic PDPansachee DamronglerdThammasat University HTHussam TabajaMayo Clinic in Florida

Key Points

To explore the association between patent foramen ovale and pyogenic brain abscess characteristics, and to assess mortality rates in these patients.
Reviewed medical records of patients with pyogenic brain abscess and known patent foramen ovale status between 2009 and 2021
Analyzed prevalence of patent foramen ovale in pyogenic brain abscess patients
Assessed clinical characteristics and one-year all-cause mortality rates.
Found a high prevalence of patent foramen ovale (40.5%) in pyogenic brain abscess patients
Observed distinct abscess characteristics in patients with patent foramen ovale
Noted that one-year all-cause mortality remained unchanged despite the presence of patent foramen ovale.

Abstract

Abstract Patent foramen ovale (PFO) has a prevalence of ∼25%. Its association with pyogenic brain abscess (PBA) is unclear. We reviewed adults with PBA and known PFO status from 1/1/2009-12/31/2021 at Mayo Clinic. High PFO prevalence (40.5%) was seen. PBA patients with PFO had distinct abscess characteristics but unchanged one-year, all-cause mortality.

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