Search

Hospital-acquired infections are common in neurointensive care units. We sought to review interventions which may reduce infection rates in neurocritically ill populations. We conducted a systematic review of studies targeting adult patients in neuro-intensive care units (neuro-ICUs) with an intervention designed to prevent ICU-acquired infections. Our outcome of interest was change in the prevalence or rates of infection between active and control arms of these studies. We excluded studies based on the following criteria: no English full-text version available; pediatric population; non-neurosciences ICU population; pre- or intraoperative methods to prevent infection; lack of discrete data for infection rates/prevalence; studies that were purely observational in nature and did not test an intervention; and studies performed in resource limited settings. We initially retrieved 3716 results by searching the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE via Ovid, and Cochrane CENTRAL via Ovid. No date or language limits were used in the search. Computerized deduplication was conducted using EndNote followed by a confirmatory manual review resulting in 3414 citations. An additional 19 manuscripts were identified through review of references. The screening process followed a standard protocol, using two screeners at the title/abstract level to determine relevance and at the full-text level to determine eligibility for inclusion. The 3427 titles/abstracts were independently screened by two board-certified neurointensivists to determine relevance for full-text review, and 3248 were rejected. The remaining 179 abstracts were reviewed in full text using predetermined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Ultimately, 75 articles met our inclusion criteria and were utilized in the final analysis. The reviewed literature highlights the need for collaborative, multi-disciplinary, and multi-pronged approaches to reduce infections. Rates of VRI, SSI, VAP, CAUTI, and CLABSI can approach zero with persistence and a team-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ventriculitis is known to develop after chronic inflammation and bacterial invasion of the ventricular surface with a recurrence of shunt infections. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of elevation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) together with CSF culture and laboratory test results in the diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt-related ventriculitis, which is known to be more problematic than conventional shunt infection. Methods: The study included a total of 34 patients with a VP shunt due to hydrocephalus, who presented with a headache, fever, and shunt infection at the Emergency Department and had a pre-diagnosis of ventriculitis. Nineteen patients were diagnosed with shunt-related infection or ventriculitis using the CSF obtained from the shunt pump. The IL-1β and TNF-α levels from the CSF samples of all patients were measured using the Micro ELISA immunoassay method. Results: CSF direct microscopic observation revealed that the mean cell count, IL-1β level, CRP level, and blood leukocyte level were higher in patients with ventriculitis compared to those diagnosed with shunt infection (p = 0.02, p = 0.009, p = 0.004, and p = 0.009, respectively). The probability of predicting positive culture outcome was 92.7% with 90.9% sensitivity and 82.6% specificity when IL-1β values exceeded 4.0 pg/ml. TNF-α values did not show a significant, reliable pattern compared to IL-1β. Conclusions: IL-1β is a reliable parameter which shall be used in the diagnosis of ventriculitis by predicting positive culture outcome with high sensitivity and specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cirugía y Cirujanos is the property of Publicidad Permanyer SLU and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Chronic meningitis and ventriculitis are defined as inflammatory pleocytoses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ependyma that persists for at least 1 month without spontaneous resolution. Because the CSF communicates directly with the posterior compartments of the eye, fungal infections in the brain often cause secondary ophthalmologic complications. We report a 23-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with progressive severe headaches associated with insidious monocular vision loss. After extensive workup and a multidisciplinary team effort, the patient was diagnosed with ventriculitis and endogenous endopthalmitis. The etiology is suspected to be due to brown heroin use with secondary disseminated Candida albicans.

Tuberculous ventriculitis is an inflammatory infection of the ventricular system of the brain, and is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We herein present the case of an immunocompromised patient with brain tuberculomas who developed ventriculitis during treatment. The patient was successfully treated with a high dose of steroid, long-term antituberculosis drugs, and aggressive supportive care.

Elizabethkingia anophelis is an emerging pathogen causing neonatal meningitis. Here, we describe the challenging course and necessity of a long 14-week duration of antibiotics in a 12-day-old male neonate with E. anophelis septicemia and meningitis. He developed ventriculitis and hydrocephalus, and needed a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. At 5-month follow-up he had developmental delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter baumannii causes invasive paediatric infections, including bacteraemia and meningitis, but neonatal meningitis and ventriculitis is uncommon. The treatment of multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter infections often relies on colistin, a polymyxin antibiotic, as a last resort. Increased use of this drug has led to the emergence of colistin resistance. An unusual case of colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii ventriculitis in a premature neonate managed with intraventricular colistin is described.

Objective: Ventricular infection from multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the most severe complications of craniotomy. However, the availability of effective therapeutic options for these infections is limited. Thus, this report aims to describe the efficacy of abscess clearance by intraventricular and intravenous tigecycline therapy in managing patients with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii ventriculitis after neurosurgery. Moreover, the current literature on the use of tigecycline therapy for these life-threatening infections is reviewed and summarized, and a treatment regimen based on the available data is proposed.Methods: A patient with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii ventriculitis was admitted in our hospital and was provided with a detailed therapeutic schedule. Tigecycline treatments for multidrug-resistant A. baumannii ventriculitis that were reported in the literature were also reviewed and summarized.Results: The patient in our hospital underwent abscess clearance on a ventriculoscope and was subsequently subjected to multi-route tigecycline therapy 14 days after the start of the continuous ventricular irrigation (CVI) tigecycline and 3 days after the intraventricular (IVT) tigecycline. The signs of ventriculitis disappeared, and the Acinetobacter cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) load steadily decreased until CSF sterilization. Literature review identified seven cases of ventricular infection from multidrug-resistant A. baumannii treated with tigecycline. In the eight cases, all patients were male adults (>18 years), with a mean age of 46.1 (range: 22–75) years. Meningitis/ventriculitis was secondary to neurosurgery procedures for the management of various central nervous system diseases in all cases. A good clinical outcome was achieved in all eight patients with multidrug-resistant A. baumannii meningitis/ventriculitis treated with CVI and/or IVT tigecycline, and any relevant complications were not observed.Conclusions: CVI and IVT tigecycline and IVT colistin could be considered as the first-line therapy in patients with ventricular infections from MDR/extreme drug-resistant A. baumannii. However, more studies should be conducted to confirm our observation.

BackgroundNosocomial CNS infection (NI-CNS) is a common and serious complication in neurocritical care patients. Timely, accurate diagnosis of NI-CNS is crucial, yet current infection markers lack specificity and/or sensitivity. Presepsin (PSP) is a novel biomarker of macrophage activation. Its utility in NI-CNS has not been explored. We first determined the normal range of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PSP in a control group without brain injury before collecting data on CSF PSP levels in neurocritical care patients. Samples were analyzed in four groups defined by systemic and neurological infection status.ResultsCSF PSP levels in 15 control patients without neurological injury were 50–100 pg/ml. Ninety-seven CSF samples were collected from 21 neurocritical care patients. In patients without NI-CNS or systemic infection, CSF PSP was 340.4 ± 201.1 pg/ml. Isolated NI-CNS was associated with CSF PSP levels of 640.8 ± 235.5 pg/ml, while levels in systemic infection without NI-CNS were 580.1 ± 329.7 pg/ml. Patients with both NI-CNS and systemic infection had CSF PSP levels of 1,047.7 ± 166.2 pg/ml. In neurocritical care patients without systemic infection, a cut-off value of 321 pg/ml gives sensitivity and specificity for NI-CNS of 100 and 58.3%, respectively.ConclusionCSF PSP may prove useful in diagnosing NI-CNS, but its current utility is as an additional marker only.

A 72-year-old man was referred to our institution because of an arch aneurysm and acute aortic dissection (thrombosed Stanford type A). Anti-impulse therapy was initiated. He developed a high fever after admission. Blood culture was negative. Five days after admission, he developed back pain. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography revealed a new low-density area from the distal arch to the descending aorta. We performed emergent total arch replacement. Although we discontinued all sedative drugs after surgery, coma continued. Brain magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging revealed ventriculitis with brain infarction. After antimicrobial therapy was started, his consciousness level improved. Ventriculitis should be suspected when disturbance of consciousness continues longer than we predict after emergent arch aneurysm surgery. Delay in diagnosis can lead to a life-threatening condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 22-day-old male neonate without perinatal problems who was diagnosed with Group B streptococcus (GBS) meningitis/ventriculitis. Topics discussed include common clinical presentations of bacterial meningitis, vital signs and physical examination of the patient, and common complication of bacterial meningitis in neonates.

Ureaplasma spp. usually causes genitourinary infections; few reports in the literature describe extragenital infections, usually in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of Ureaplasma parvum ventriculitis in an immunocompetent patient related to ventriculoperitoneal drainage and surgery. Ureaplasma parvum was detected with broad range 16S rRNA PCR and cultured on A8 agar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 69-year-old patient, with a long history of lung tuberculosis, with lymphopenia was emergently admitted in our hospital for bronchopneumonia, ventriculitis, acute internal hydrocephalic. He was aggressively treated with iv Meropenem and Vancomycin, intraventricular high doses of Vancomycin, aerosols, Dexametazone with healing of internal hydrocephalus, ventriculitis and improvement of bronchopneumonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens has resulted in difficult-to-treat ventriculitis/meningitis (VM). We used a meta-analysis to study the role of intraventricular (IVT) antibiotic administration as an adjunct (IVT plus intravenous [IV]) to the classic intravenous antimicrobial therapy (IV-only) in the management of VM in terms of infection control, functional outcome, microbial eradication, complications, cost-benefit analysis, infectious mortality, and overall mortality. Methods The electronic search focused on adult neurosurgical cases complicated by gram-negative VM and was limited to studies comparing IVT plus IV and IV-only. The quality of the overall body of evidence was assessed according to GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation). The pooled estimates for each question were summarized as odds ratios (ORs) and visualized using forest plots. Every outcome was stratified according to carbapenem resistance. Results Eleven studies with 348 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. No evidence was found for infection control, functional outcome, or complications. For the remaining items evaluated, the overall quality of the best available evidence was low. IVT plus IV treatment was statistically superior to IV-only therapy in eradication (OR, 10.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.62–38.65), infectious mortality (OR, 0.1; 95% CI, 0.03–0.36), and overall mortality (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08–0.60) in the management of carbapenem-resistant pathogens only. Conclusions Combined IVT plus IV treatment did not prove superior to standard IV-only treatment in the management of VM. Nevertheless, weak evidence showed that IVT treatment might serve as an adjunct in the management of carbapenem-resistant pathogens. Highlights • Gram-negative VM is a disease with high mortality. • The addition of IVT to IV antibiotics might not improve the outcome. • The used of adjunct drugs might be beneficial if carbapenem resistance is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postneurosurgical ventriculitis is mainly caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci. The rate of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (LRSE) is increasing worldwide.Aims: To report clinical, epidemiological and microbiological data from a series of ventriculitis cases caused by LRSE in a Spanish hospital between 2013 and 2016.Methods: Cases of LRSE ventriculitis were reviewed retrospectively in a Spanish hospital over a four-year period. Clinical/epidemiological data of the infected patients were reviewed, the isolates involved were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing, and the molecular bases of linezolid resistance were determined.Findings: Five cases of LRSE ventriculitis were detected. The patients suffered from cerebral haemorrhage or head trauma that required the placement of an external ventricular drain; spent a relatively long time in the intensive care unit (ICU) (10-26 days); and three out of the five patients had previously been treated with linezolid. All LRSE had the same PFGE pattern, belonged to ST2, and shared an identical mechanism of linezolid resistance. Specifically, all had the G2576T mutation in the V domain of each of the six copies of the 23S rRNA gene, together with the Q136L and M156T mutations and the 71GGR72 insertion in the L3 and L4 ribosomal proteins, respectively.Conclusion: The high ratio of linezolid consumption in the ICU (7.72-8.10 defined daily dose/100 patient-days) could have selected this resistant clone, which has probably become endemic in the ICU where it could have colonized admitted patients. Infection control and antimicrobial stewardship interventions are essential to prevent the dissemination of this difficult-to-treat pathogen, and to preserve the therapeutic efficacy of linezolid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Candida parapsilosis is an incredibly rare cause of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infections, with only 1 adult case reported in the literature to date. Case Description We describe the case of a 45-year-old man admitted for a traumatic fall and subsequently treated with VP shunt placement for obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to a cerebellar contusion and intraventricular hemorrhage. Eight months following VP shunt placement, the patient presented with a 2-month history of clear fluid leakage through a dehiscent surgical abdominal wound overlying the distal VP shunt. Cerebrospinal fluid cultures were obtained and grew C. parapsilosis. The patient subsequently underwent VP shunt externalization and began antifungal treatment with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B. Cerebrospinal fluid studies continued to redemonstrate C. parapsilosis infection, for which VP shunt removal and external ventricular drain placement was performed. Three days into treatment with amphotericin B, he endured significant nephrotoxicity necessitating a switch to oral fluconazole. Following 3 weeks of oral fluconazole treatment with negative serial cerebrospinal fluid cultures, the patient underwent external ventricular drain removal and VP shunt insertion. Following the procedure and 22 total days of oral fluconazole treatment, our patient recovered well and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility in stable condition. Conclusions In our report, we describe the clinical course of our patient and offer a review and analysis of the most up-to-date literature concerning C. parapsilosis shunt infections, as well as treatment guidelines for central nervous system candidiasis. Highlights • Candida parapsilosis is an incredibly rare cause of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infections. • Successful treatment requires infected hardware removal. • Treatment also requires long-term antifungal therapy with fluconazole, amphotericin B, or flucytosine. • Optimal treatment duration is unclear, though it should be continued at least until CSF studies normalize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus suis , a gram-positive facultative anaerobe commonly found in pigs, is an emerging zoonotic pathogen. Herein, we describe a case of a 45-year-old male Japanese meat wholesaler with S. suis meningitis and pyogenic ventriculitis. S. suis was isolated from his blood and cerebrospinal fluid culture, and sequence type (ST) and serotype were confirmed to be ST1 and serotype 2, respectively, by multilocus sequence typing and the Quellung reaction. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed right labyrinthitis and pyogenic ventriculitis. The patient was treated with ceftriaxone and ampicillin for 24 days; the treatment was deemed successful based on negative blood cultures on day 4. However, the patient experienced hearing loss and a vestibular nerve disorder. S. suis is a rare pathogen in Japan but can cause severe infection and sequelae. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a human case of pyogenic ventriculitis caused by S. suis . Our findings suggest that S. suis infection should be considered when hearing impairment is present in a patient with bacterial infection and that MRI can help detect ventriculitis, which can necessitate a prolonged treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background External ventricular drains (EVDs) are a serious source of morbidity and mortality. Data for interventions proven to reduce risk of infections are lacking. Single-center studies are limited in studying procedures that mitigate infection, but bundled protocols have demonstrated utility. A collaborative EVD registry was designed to facilitate local quality improvement projects to be implemented at any location using standardized data collection instruments through resident collaboration to reduce and study EVD infection and prevention. Methods A bundled protocol and comprehensive implementation program were developed as a quality improvement project to reduce ventriculostomy-associated infections. Standardized data collection forms were created for multi-institutional participation in an EVD registry. Retrospective and prospective patient data were documented in an electronic procedural registry, which was designed to capture variation among multiple institutions. Results Two infections were found in 1924 EVD-days before protocol implementation; no infections were found in 700 EVD-days after protocol implementation. Baseline epidemiology of EVDs was calculated in preparation for comparison. A resident-driven EVD consortium, now with 5 other member institutions, was founded to collect data for an EVD registry fed by individual site quality improvement initiatives. Conclusions The ventriculostomy-associated infection rate at the University of Minnesota is low compared with the literature. Rationally bundled protocols have mounting evidence but do not allow for identifying effective individual components. Through the registry described here, others can join the EVD consortium to contribute data to facilitate comparative effectiveness research with minimal investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a common cause of pediatric ventricular shunt infections. The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends vancomycin serum troughs of 15–20 µg/mL when treating CoNS shunt infections in adult patients. We report a series of pediatric cases of CoNS shunt infections in which clinical cure was obtained with troughs < 15 µg/mL. These findings question the relevance of this recommendation in pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: External ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is a common neurosurgical procedure with a significant risk of ventriculostomy-associated infections (VAIs), other morbidities and mortality. Several risk factors have been identified but their effect is unclear.Objective: Our primary objective was to assess whether recurrent EVD sampling increased the risk of VAIs. The secondary objective was to explore the effect of sampling frequency, duration of EVD stay, presence of cerebrospinal fluid leak and concurrent infections.Methods: Ours was a retrospective, single-centre, age-matched, case control study of 83 patients and 249 controls who underwent EVD insertion between 1 January 2010 - 31 December 2016. Patients with primary CNS infections, age under 1 year and death within 5 days of EVD insertion were excluded. Blinded abstractors collected all patient data through the electronic patient record system and regression analysis was used to compare the two groups.Results: Sampling the EVD more than once did not increase the risk of infection (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.27-0.83, p = 0.01). Risk factors significantly associated with VAI included CSF leak (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.16-3.67, p = 0.01), concurrent infection (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.09-3.16, p = 0.02), and an EVD duration of >10 days (OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.24-4.18, p = 0.01).Conclusion: Our findings do not support the notion that increased sampling of EVDs is associated with a higher risk of VAI. CSF leaks, concurrent infection and long-term EVDs are also statistically significant risk factors for infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) from external ventricular drain (EVD) insertion is a common complication and carries a high mortality rate. Choice of empiric antibiotics depends on the institutions common causative organisms and their susceptibility. We determined risk factors for mortality in patients with VRI, the common organisms causing VRI, and the rate of EVD-related VRI at our institution. Methods: Medical records and operative data of patients with cerebrospinal fluid positive cultures with an EVD inserted from 2012 to 2015 were traced. Forty-five patients with EVD-related VRI were included in the study. Results: The overall rate of VRI was 6.3%, and the overall mortality rate due to VRI was 48.9%. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most common organism causing VRI (14 patients, 29.2%) with a mortality rate of 64.3%. Only 14.3% of A. baumannii are sensitive to meropenem and imipenem. We found that patients that had a decompressive craniectomy (DC) had a lower mortality rate (P = 0.042) and patients with a longer duration of the EVD being in place before the diagnosis of VRI had poor outcome (P = 0.040). Multivariate logistic regression was performed and we found that the use of steroid (P = 0.014), Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (P = 0.010), multiple organism infection (P = 0.017), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (P = 0.043), and a longer duration the EVD was in place before the diagnosis of VRI (P = 0.008) were related with higher mortality. Conclusion: VRI mortality rate is high with an alarming resistance pattern seen in Acinetobacter VRI. EVDs should be removed as soon as feasible, and DC may be offered to patients with severe ventriculitis or meningitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy and safety of intrathecal (ITH) or intraventricular (IVT) colistin in addition to intravenous (IV) colistin for meningitis and ventriculitis due to carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is unclear. In this retrospective observational study of 40 patients with post-neurosurgical meningitis and ventriculitis due to CRAB, 33 patients without concomitant infection received appropriate dosage regimens of IV colistin. Of the 33 patients, 17 received additional ITH/IVT colistin and 16 received only IV colistin. The 14-day, 30-day and in-hospital mortality rates were nominally lower for patients who received ITH/IVT colistin adjunctive therapy versus patients who received only IV colistin (24% vs. 38%, 29% vs. 56% and 29% vs. 56%, respectively). The costs of treatment were significantly lower, the lengths of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were significantly shorter, and the number of ventilator days was significantly less among patients who received ITH/IVT colistin compared with patients who did not receive ITH/IVT colistin. The initial Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were associated with 30-day mortality with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 1.21 (1.08–1.46) and 0.77 (0.44–0.85), respectively. Chemical meningitis from ITH/IVT colistin was mild and resolved spontaneously. Treatment of post-neurosurgical CRAB meningitis and ventriculitis with ITH/IVT colistin as an adjunct to IV colistin was associated with shorter lengths of hospital and ICU stay and a trend to lower mortality, especially among severely ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ventriculitis is a known complication during external CSF drainage in preterm infants with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation. Staphylococci are most frequently isolated in device-associated ventriculitis, and hence, intraventricular vancomycin is a commonly used therapy. Our aim was to study the CSF vancomycin level pattern and drug safety in ventriculostomy access device infection in preterm infants less than 28 weeks gestation.Methods: This single-centre, retrospective case series included seven infants with a median gestational age of 25 + 4 weeks (range 23 + 6 to 27 + 5 weeks). Ventriculitis was defined as elevated CSF white cell count of > 20/mm3 or positive CSF culture. The CSF vancomycin concentrations following intraventricular vancomycin administration were studied.Results: Forty treatment episodes of intraventricular vancomycin administration were studied in seven preterm infants. Maximum CSF vancomycin concentrations were 24.9 mg/L (3 mg, n = 8, observed concentration-time (OCT), hours (h) = 19), 96.3 mg/L (5 mg, n = 17, OCT(h) = 14), 94 mg/L (10 mg, n = 14, OCT(h) = 24), and 230.7 mg/L (15 mg, n = 1, OCT(h) = 24). The threshold for re-dosage is set at CSF vancomycin level of < 10 mg/L. In all patients, ventriculitis resolution (defined as sterile CSF and CSF WCC of < 20/mm3) was achieved in a median of 5.5 days (range 2–31 days). Individual microbiology data is provided in the online resource.Conclusion: Intraventricular vancomycin is an effective treatment for ventriculostomy access device infection in preterm infants. In doses ranging from 3 to 15 mg, sufficient CSF vancomycin level is generated to achieve microbiological cure without any reported adverse effects. Daily CSF drug monitoring is recommended to define dosage interval to maintain drug concentration above breakpoint of minimum inhibitory concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iatrogenic ventriculitis is a common complication of the external ventricular drainage. While the procedure and indications for external ventricular drains (EVD) are highly standardized, the treatment of ventriculitis is not clearly defined.Objective: To depict the treatment of iatrogenic ventriculitis currently performed in German hospitals.Methods: A standardized questionnaire consisting of 18 multiple choice questions, each with the ability to provide additional individual answers, covering the diagnosis and treatment of iatrogenic ventriculitis as well as general handling of EVDs, was sent to 121 neurosurgical hospitals registered in the German Society for Neurosurgery (DGNC).Results: Thirty-three out of 121 hospitals returned the questionnaire. While diagnostics are performed similarly in most hospitals, the treatment varies remarkably. Ten of the 33 (30%) units never applied antibiotics intrathecally and 12 (36%) only in selected (1–20%) cases, while 7 (21%) do this routinely, and the remaining 4 centers vary their treatment. While the targeted systemic therapy after pathogen identification and resistance testing is similar, the choice of empiric antibiotics varies as does the type of drug used for intrathecal therapy. Among the applied systemic antibiotics, vancomycin [n = 23 (70%)] and meropenem [n = 22 (67%)] were the most common, but many others, including ceftriaxone, metronidazol, linezolid, piperacillin/tazobactam, fosfomycin and ceftazidim, are used. There is no standard practice regarding EVD handling. Twelve (36%) hospitals do not replace the EVD after a new diagnosis of ventriculitis, 13 (39%) do so once after the diagnosis, and 8 (24%) regularly switch EVDs after a defined time span (7–20 days), even without signs of infection.Conclusion: Treatment concepts for iatrogenic ventriculitis are very heterogeneous. Thus, there is an urgent need for generating outcome data and defining a standard treatment algorithm with the recently published practice guideline being an important first step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathological manifestations in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following experimental waterborne infection with Yersinia ruckeri serotype O1 biotype 2 (strain 07111224) were investigated. Rainbow trout were exposed to 8 x 107 CFU/ml of Y. ruckeri by bath for 6 hr, and mortality was then monitored for 22 days postinfection (dpi). Organs were sampled at 3 dpi and also from moribund fish showing signs of severe systemic infection such as bleeding, exophthalmia or erratic swimming behaviour. Y. ruckeri was observed in the meninges and diencephalon of the brain, and lamina propria of olfactory organ at 3 dpi. At 12 dpi, Y. ruckeri had spread throughout the brain including cranial connective tissues and ventricles and the infection was associated with haemorrhages and an infiltration with leucocytes. Y. ruckeri infection and associated with leucocyte infiltration were observed at 13 dpi. In conclusion, Y. ruckeri strain 07111224 causes encephalitis in the acute phase of infection, which could explain why Y. ruckeri-affected fish show exophthalmia and erratic swimming known as signs of ERM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The central nervous system (CNS) may be infected by a number of organisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Non-infectious causes such as autoimmune and vascular conditions may present with similar clinical syndromes necessitating the appropriate laboratory requests and good diagnostics. CNS infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, often requiring surgical intervention and admission to neurointensive care units. Common infection diagnoses seen in the neurointensive care unit include meningitis, ventriculitis, encephalitis and abscesses, including brain and spine. New and emerging pathogens in ITU settings include Candida auris and multi-resistant Gram negative bacteria, which are easily transmissible and may threaten the antimicrobial choices available for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nosocomial CNS infection (NI-CNS) is a common and serious complication in neurocritical care patients. Timely, accurate diagnosis of NI-CNS is crucial, yet current infection markers lack specificity and/or sensitivity. Presepsin (PSP) is a novel biomarker of macrophage activation. Its utility in NI-CNS has not been explored. We first determined the normal range of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) PSP in a control group without brain injury before collecting data on CSF PSP levels in neurocritical care patients. Samples were analyzed in four groups defined by systemic and neurological infection status. Results: CSF PSP levels in 15 control patients without neurological injury were 50-100 pg/ml. Ninety-seven CSF samples were collected from 21 neurocritical care patients. In patients without NI-CNS or systemic infection, CSF PSP was 340.4 ± 201.1 pg/ml. Isolated NI-CNS was associated with CSF PSP levels of 640.8 ± 235.5 pg/ml, while levels in systemic infection without NI-CNS were 580.1 ± 329.7 pg/ml. Patients with both NI-CNS and systemic infection had CSF PSP levels of 1,047.7 ± 166.2 pg/ml. In neurocritical care patients without systemic infection, a cut-off value of 321 pg/ml gives sensitivity and specificity for NI-CNS of 100 and 58.3%, respectively. Conclusion: CSF PSP may prove useful in diagnosing NI-CNS, but its current utility is as an additional marker only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyogenic ventriculitis is a rare but severe post-neurosurgical complication. The infection is often resistant to antibiotic treatment alone. Continuous intraventricular irrigation has been suggested but the technique is cumbersome, increases the risk for secondary infection, and is inadequate in removing adherent purulence. We used a novel neuroendoscopic approach assisted with a side-cutting aspiration device to treat four cases of post-neurosurgical pyogenic ventriculitis. Ventricular empyema was cleared in all patients and three of the four patients had favorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurological infections constitute an uncommon, but important aetiological cause requiring admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, health-care associated neurological infections may develop in critically ill patients admitted to an ICU for other indications. Central nervous system infections can develop as complications in ICU patients including post-operative neurosurgical patients. While bacterial infections are the most common cause, mycobacterial and fungal infections are also frequently encountered. Delay in institution of specific treatment is considered to be the single most important poor prognostic factor. Empirical antibiotic therapy must be initiated while awaiting specific culture and sensitivity results. Choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy should take into consideration the most likely pathogens involved, locally prevalent drug-resistance patterns, underlying predisposing, co-morbid conditions, and other factors, such as age, immune status. Further, the antibiotic should adequately penetrate the blood-brain and blood- cerebrospinal fluid barriers. The presence of a focal collection of pus warrants immediate surgical drainage. Following strict aseptic precautions during surgery, hand-hygiene and care of catheters, devices constitute important preventive measures. A high index of clinical suspicion and aggressive efforts at identification of aetiological cause and early institution of specific treatment in patients with neurological infections can be life saving.