Table 3 Infections and antibiotics.

From: Intraventricular antibiotics for severe central nervous system infections: a case series

 

Overall

CA-CNSI

HAVM

p-Value

Microbiology

   

0.009

Not identified* (n (%))

3 (11.1)

0 (0.0)

3 (21.4)

 

Gram-positive (n (%))

12 (44.4)

9 (69.2)

3 (21.4)

 

Gram-negative (n (%))

8 (29.6)

1 (7.7)

7 (50.0)

 

Mixed flora (n (%))

4 (14.8)

3 (23.1)

1 (7.1)

 

Microbiology diagnosis

   

0.049

By Culture (n (%))

21 (77.8)

10 (76.9)

11 (78.6)

 

By PCR (n (%))

3 (11.1)

3 (23.1)

0 (0.0)

 

Only increased CSF WBC (n (%))

3 (11.1)

0 (0.0)

3 (21.4)

 

Antibiotics for IVT

   

0.206

Colistin (n (%))

1 (3.7)

1 (7.7)

0 (0.0)

 

Gentamicin (n (%))

2 (7.4)

0 (0.0)

2 (14.3)

 

Vancomycin (n (%))

9 (33.3)

6 (46.2)

3 (21.4)

 

Gentamicin and Vancomycin (n (%))

15 (55.6)

6 (46.2)

9 (64.3)

 

Duration ST(days, median [IQR])

30 [16 – 47.5]

43 [25 – 48]

19 [15.25 – 42.75]

0.126

Duration IVT (days, median [IQR])

11 [7.5 – 14]

11 [8–14]

12.5 [7.5 – 14]

0.644

Time to culture negativity days [IQR] n = 21 patients**

4 [2–7]

5 [3–7]

4 [2–6]

0.905

  1. Data in brackets represent percentages. Data in square brackets represent interquartile ranges [IQR]. CA-CNSI (community-acquired central nervous system infection); HAVM (healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis); CSF-WBC (cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count); ST (systemic intravenous antibiotics); IVT (intraventricular antibiotics); PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Comparisons among patients with CA-CNSI and those with HAVM were performed. * in three patients no microorganism was identified and IVT was guided by strong clinical suspicion of HAVM. ** In 21 patients CNSI- diagnosis was made by positive culture.