Table 2.

Definitions of ventriculitis diagnosis

1. Infection Confirmed ventriculitis	• One or more positive cultures + pathological CSF findings + clinical symptoms (e.g. fever) • Pathological CSF findings + clinical symptoms (e.g. fever) but no positive cultures • Multiple positive cultures without pathological CSF findings + clinical symptoms (e.g. fever)
2. No infection	• No pathological CSF findings + no pathogen detected + no clinical symptoms
3. Contamination (No infection)	• Single positive culture without pathological CSF findings + no clinical symptoms
4. Colonization (No infection)	• Multiple positive cultures without pathological CSF findings + no clinical symptoms

No single parameter alone establishes the diagnosis of ventriculitis; therefore, all laboratory parameters including cell count, glucose-ratio, lactate and microbiological findings must be interpreted within the clinical context

Abbreviations: CSF cerebrospinal fluid