›Tracks along the digastric groove medial to digastric muscle
›Follows sternocleidomastoid muscle inferiorly
›Collects in deep cervical fascial spaces below mastoid tip
›Named after Friedrich Bezold 1824-1908 who described the anatomic pathway
›Microbiology
›Polymicrobial infection common
›Streptococcus species most frequent aerobic organisms
›Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA
›Gram-negative rods in chronic otitis media
›Anaerobic organisms critical
›Fusobacterium species associated with severe complications including Lemierre syndrome
›Bacteroides species
›Peptostreptococcus species
›Cholesteatoma alters flora
›Pseudomonas aeruginosa in chronic suppurative otitis media with cholesteatoma
›Polymicrobial with resistant organisms
›Complication cascade
›Intracranial extension routes
›Direct bony erosion through tegmen or petrous apex
›Retrograde thrombophlebitis through emissary veins to dural sinuses
›Labyrinthine spread to posterior fossa
›Sigmoid sinus thrombosis
›Retrograde thrombophlebitis from mastoid emissary vein
›Septic emboli risk: pulmonary and distant septic emboli
›Lemierre syndrome association
›Septic thrombophlebitis of internal jugular vein
›Fusobacterium necrophorum in young adults
›May coexist with Bezold's abscess as concurrent deep neck infection
Therapeutic Considerations
›Antibiotic strategy evidence
›Combination coverage is standard
›Empiric regimens must cover Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, gram-negatives, and anaerobes
›Bridwell et al 2024 (Am J Emerg Med): ampicillin-sulbactam or ceftriaxone plus metronidazole as first-line
›MRSA coverage individualized
›Add vancomycin when risk factors present or critically ill
›De-escalate when cultures do not confirm MRSA
›Ototoxic antibiotic avoidance
›Aminoglycosides avoided when hearing preservation is a goal
›Particularly relevant post-mastoidectomy
›Surgical timing and approach
›Early surgery improves outcomes
›Delay associated with intracranial complications in systematic reviews
›ENT consultation and surgical planning on arrival
›Canal wall up versus canal wall down mastoidectomy
›Canal wall up preferred when no cholesteatoma
›Canal wall down for cholesteatoma eradication
›Concurrent tympanostomy tube insertion
›Provides middle ear drainage and culture material
›Reduces risk of recurrent otitis media
›Anticoagulation debate for sinus thrombosis
›No randomized controlled trials specific to Bezold's abscess
›Retrospective series support anticoagulation for septic dural sinus thrombosis
›Risk of hemorrhagic conversion weighed against septic embolism risk
›Infectious disease and neurology input recommended
›Prevention strategies
›Pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae vaccination
›Reduces S. pneumoniae mastoiditis incidence
›Complete antibiotic courses for acute otitis media
›Incomplete treatment associated with coalescent mastoiditis
›Early specialist referral for treatment failures
›Otitis media not responding to 48 to 72 hours of antibiotics