Bacterial Meningitis among Intracranial Surgery Patients at a University Hospital in Northern India

Development of an Evidence-based Care Bundle for Prevention of External Ventricular Drain-related Infection: Results of a Single-center Prospective Cohort Study and Literature Review

Background

External ventricular drain (EVD)-related infection (ERI) is a common complication in cranial neurosurgery practice with high mortality. The risk factors associated with ERI are not well studied in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) like India. Identifying the risk variables is a necessity to design robust evidence-based care bundles for ERI prevention.

Materials and methods

This is a single-center prospective cohort study. Patients with and without ERI during the 2-year study period were analyzed along with literature review to identify the risk variables associated with ERI. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) comprehensive flowchart was used to develop the concept care bundle for ERI prevention.

Results

A total of 211 EVD were inserted during the study period. 15 ERI (7.1%) were identified based on IDSA criteria, with an average infection rate of 11.12 per 1000 EVD days. Gram negative bacteria (GNB) were the predominant pathogen (12/15, 80%), with Klebsiella pneumoniae (6/15, 40%) being the most common bacteria isolated. In multivariate analysis, the risk variables associated with ERI were use of broad spectrum pre-surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis for long duration, choice of posterior craniometric points for EVD insertion, EVD duration >7 days, EVD leak and surveillance cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling at periodic intervals. Based on the risk variables identified in this study and literature review, a consensus decision on the care elements for the insertion and maintenance phases was chosen for the concept care bundle for ERI prevention.

Conclusion

An evidence-based concept care bundle for ERI prevention is proposed for further multicentric evaluation and validation.

How to cite this article

Ponnambath DK, Divakar G, Mamachan J, Biju S, Raja K, Abraham M. Development of an Evidence-based Care Bundle for Prevention of External Ventricular Drain-related Infection: Results of a Single-center Prospective Cohort Study and Literature Review. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(8):760-768.

Guidelines for Antibiotics Prescription in Critically Ill Patients

How to cite this article: Khilnani GC, Tiwari P, Mittal S, Kulkarni AP, Chaudhry D, Zirpe KG, et al. Guidelines for Antibiotics Prescription in Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(S2):S104-S216.

Epidemiology, clinical profile, and outcomes of CSF-diversion catheter-related infections - Prospective cohort study results from a single quaternary neurosurgery referral centre

BACKGROUND

Device-associated CNS infections is a major subgroup of healthcare associated CNS infections. Healthcare-associated ventriculitis or meningitis differs considerably from community-acquired meningitis in its epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and management.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the infection rates, the associated risk factors, and outcomes of these life-threatening infections.

METHODS

This was a 2-year single center prospective cohort study. Patient's clinical data, laboratory parameters, treatment and their outcomes were collected using data collection tool, and device days were collected from the hospital information system (HIS). Patients were categorised using IDSA criteria as contamination or colonisation or infection. Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis to estimate hazard risk.

RESULTS

A total of 578 CSF diversion catheters were inserted in 472 patients. The average rate for EVD and LD infection were 11.12 and 11.86 per 1000 device days respectively. The average infection rates for VP and LP shunts were 6% and 5.2% per procedure, respectively. The commonest etiological agent causing CSF diversion catheter-related infection (CDRI) was Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 14, 40%). The risk factors which were independently associated with increased infection risk by cox regression analysis were drain insertion ≥7 days [HR:11.73, p -0.03], posterior approach of EVD insertion (occipital) [HR:9.53, p - 0.01], pre-OP ASA score>3 [HR:8.28, p - 0.013] presence of EVD/LD leak [HR: 17.24, p < 0.0001], male gender [HR:2.05, p-0.05] and presence of associated peri-operative scalp infections [HR:3.531, p-0.005]. Shift to narrow spectrum surgical prophylactic antibiotic [Coefficient: -1.284, p-0.03] and reduction in CSF sampling frequency [Coefficient: -1.741, p-0.02] were found to be negatively associated with CDRI.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated drain insertion ≥7 days, posterior approach of EVD insertion, presence of EVD/LD leak, male gender and presence of associated peri-operative scalp skin and soft tissue infections were associated with increased risk of infection.