Table 3.
Infections and antibiotics.
| 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 |
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.