Use of Daptomycin as Salvage Therapy in the Treatment of Central Nervous System Infections Including Meningitis and Shunt Infections

Daptomycin for the treatment of acute bacterial meningitis: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

There is a growing interest in the utilization of daptomycin for the treatment of multi-drug resistant, Gram-positive infections. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest that daptomycin could penetrate into the cerebrospinal fluid, albeit to a small extent. The objective of this review was to evaluate the available clinical evidence for daptomycin use in acute bacterial meningitis of both pediatric and adult patients.

METHODS

Electronic databases were searched up to June 2022 for studies published on the topic. The inclusion criteria were met if the study reported the use of intravenous daptomycin (more than a single dose) for the treatment of diagnosed acute bacterial meningitis.

RESULTS

A total of 21 case reports were identified that met the inclusion criteria. These suggest that daptomycin could be safe and effective alternative in achieving clinical cure of meningitis. In these studies, daptomycin was used in the event of treatment failure, patient intolerance, or bacterial resistance to first-line agents.

CONCLUSIONS

Daptomycin has potential to be an alternative to standard care for meningitis caused by Gram-positive bacteria in the future; however, more robust research is required to establish an optimal dosing regimen, duration of therapy, and place in therapy for the management of meningitis.

Staphylococcus haemolyticus meningitis and bacteremia in an allogenic stem cell transplant patient

Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a rare cause of bacterial meningitis and most commonly occurs as a nosocomial infection in patients' post-neurosurgery. We report a patient post-allogenic stem cell transplant, with no prior history of neurosurgical procedures, who developed S. haemolyticus meningitis and bacteremia following central catheter-related bloodstream infection. The patient failed therapy with vancomycin and daptomycin but was successfully treated with a prolonged course of linezolid. We review the pharmacological management of coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) meningitis, with a focus on the pharmacokinetic properties of vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid within the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Polymicrobial Intracerebral Abscess Growing Mycobacterium avium Complex and Achromobacter xylosoxidans: Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Achromobacter xylosoxidans (AX) are uncommon sources of neurosurgical infections, particularly in immunocompetent hosts. We report the first published case of intracranial AX abscess and polymicrobial AX-MAC abscess, as well as the fourth MAC abscess in a non-immunocompromised patient.

METHODS

This case report was conducted via retrospective chart review. A literature review was completed in compliance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines.

RESULTS

Ten years following mucocele resection, a 60-year-old man presented with sinus congestion and headache. Head imaging revealed a left frontal lesion abutting the cribriform plate and ethmoid roof. The patient had a left frontal craniotomy for abscess drainage. Intraoperative cultures demonstrated polymicrobial growth of AX and MAC, managed with antimicrobial therapy and staged skull base reconstruction. Three cases of MAC abscess and 16 cases of AX ventriculitis or meningitis have been reported in immunocompetent patients. All MAC cerebral abscesses occurred in adults, one of whom succumbed to the infection. Of the 9 AX meningitis cases, 4 occurred in neonates and 2 in pediatric patients. Six of the 7 AX ventriculitis cases occurred after neurosurgical operations at the same hospital from contaminated chlorhexidine basins. Except for the neonates, AX ventriculitis or meningitis patients had undergone neurosurgery or had a history of cranial trauma. There were no reports of polymicrobial AX-MAC intracranial abscess.

CONCLUSIONS

AX and MAC are rare causes of intracranial infection. Patients with these pathogens identified in the central nervous system require a multidisciplinary approach for successful management.

Prevención y tratamiento de las infecciones del sitio operatorio en neurocirugía. Estado del arte

El manejo adecuado de las infecciones del sitio operatorio (ISO) en neurocirugía es fundamental para la disminución de la carga de morbilidad y mortalidad en estos pacientes. La sospecha y confirmación diagnóstica asociadas al aislamiento microbiológico son esenciales para asegurar el tratamiento oportuno y el adecuado gerenciamiento de antibióticos. En esta revisión se presenta de forma resumida los puntos fundamentales para la prevención y el tratamiento de infecciones del sitio operatorio en neurocirugía y se incluye un apartado sobre el uso de antibióticos intratecales/intraventriculares.

2017 Infectious Diseases Society of America's Clinical Practice Guidelines for Healthcare-Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Standards and Practice Guidelines Committee collaborated with partner organizations to convene a panel of 10 experts on healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis. The panel represented pediatric and adult specialists in the field of infectious diseases and represented other organizations whose members care for patients with healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis (American Academy of Neurology, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and Neurocritical Care Society). The panel reviewed articles based on literature reviews, review articles and book chapters, evaluated the evidence and drafted recommendations. Questions were reviewed and approved by panel members. Subcategories were included for some questions based on specific populations of patients who may develop healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis after the following procedures or situations: cerebrospinal fluid shunts, cerebrospinal fluid drains, implantation of intrathecal infusion pumps, implantation of deep brain stimulation hardware, and general neurosurgery and head trauma. Recommendations were followed by the strength of the recommendation and the quality of the evidence supporting the recommendation. Many recommendations, however, were based on expert opinion because rigorous clinical data are not available. These guidelines represent a practical and useful approach to assist practicing clinicians in the management of these challenging infections.