CSF lactate is not a reliable indicator of bacterial ventriculitis in patients with ventriculostomies

A febrile patient with a ventriculostomy presents a diagnostic challenge. Hyperthermia and meningeal signs are common in patients who have undergone neurosurgery or are recovering from intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhages, and are not necessarily indicative of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection. Furthermore, presence of blood and inflammation make CSF analysis difficult, and use of periprocedural antibiotics or antibiotics for prevention of ventriculostomy-related infection can affect the reliability of initial gram stain.

Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery - March 22, 2017 Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Emily Hill, Thomas P. Bleck, Kamaljit Singh, Bichun Ouyang, Katharina M. Busl Source Type: research