Healthcare-associated ventriculitis: current and emerging diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Healthcare-associated ventriculitis: current and emerging diagnostic and treatment strategies. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2020 Dec 17;: Authors: Hasbun R Abstract INTRODUCTION: Healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis occurs after neurosurgical procedures, is associated with an adverse outcome in the majority of patients and represent a diagnostic challenge to clinicians. As the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is the cornerstone of diagnosis, obtaining CSF studies prior to starting antibiotic therapy is key. AREAS COVERED: This review will evaluate the incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis, empirical intravenous antibiotic therapy, adjunctive intrathecal therapy, microbiology, prognosis and prevention of HCAVM. We highlight the challenges and limitations of the currently available diagnostic methods and definitions and explore novel technologies. Our review included the search for published literature until June 2020. EXPERT OPINION: Despite available preventive measures, HCAVM continues to occur and to be independently associated with significant neurological morbidity and mortality in the majority of patients. The cornerstone of the diagnosis of HCAVM is a positive CSF culture but the microbiological yield is reduced to ~50% with prior antimicrobial therapy. Although the CSF profile is not affected by antibiotic therapy it has a fair diagnostic accuracy. Future research efforts shou...
Source: Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther Source Type: research