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Sohn SY, Russell CD, Jamjoom AAB, Poon MT, Lawson McLean A, Ahmed AI, Abdulla MAH, Alalade A, Bailey M, Basu S, Baudracco I, Bayston R, Bhattacharya A, Bodkin P, Boissaud-Cooke M, Bojanic S, Brennan PM, Bulters DO, Buxton N, Chari A, Corns R, Coulter C, Coulter I, Critchley G, Dando A, Dardis R, Duddy J, Dyson E, Edwards R, Garnett M, Gatcher S, Georges H, Glancz LJ, Gray WP, Hallet J, Harte J, Haylock-Vize P, Hutchinson PJ, Humphreys H, Jenkinson MD, Joannides AJ, Kandasamy J, Kitchen J, Kolias AG, Loan JJM, Ma R, Madder H, Mallucci CL, Manning A, Mcelligott S, Mukerji N, Narayanamurthy H, O’Brien D, Okasha M, Papadopoulos M, Phan V, Phang I, Poots J, Rajaraman C, Roach J, Ross N, Sharouf F, Shastin D, Simms N, Steele L, Solth A, Tajsic T, Talibi S, Thanabalasundaram G, Vintu M, Wan Y, Wang D, Watkins L, Whitehouse K, Whitfield PC, Williams A, Zaben M. Comparison of suspected and confirmed internal EVD-related infections: a prospective multi-centre U.K. observational study. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac480. [PMID: 36267249 PMCID: PMC9578167 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Diagnosis of internal external ventricular drain (EVD)-related infections (iERI) is an area of diagnostic difficulty. Empiric treatment is often initiated on clinical suspicion. There is limited guidance around antimicrobial management of confirmed versus suspected iERI. Methods Data on patients requiring EVD insertion were collected from 21 neurosurgical units in the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2015. Confirmed iERI was defined as clinical suspicion of infection with positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and/or Gram stain. Cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and clinical parameters and antimicrobial management were compared between the 2 groups. Mortality and Modified Rankin Scores were compared at 30 days post-EVD insertion. Results Internal EVD-related infection was suspected after 46 of 495 EVD insertions (9.3%), more common after an emergency insertion. Twenty-six of 46 were confirmed iERIs, mostly due to Staphylococci (16 of 26). When confirmed and suspected infections were compared, there were no differences in CSF white cell counts or glucose concentrations, nor peripheral blood white cell counts or C-reactive protein concentrations. The incidence of fever, meningism, and seizures was also similar, although altered consciousness was more common in people with confirmed iERI. Broad-spectrum antimicrobial usage was prevalent in both groups with no difference in median duration of therapy (10 days [interquartile range {IQR}, 7–24.5] for confirmed cases and 9.5 days [IQR, 5.75–14] for suspected, P = 0.3). Despite comparable baseline characteristics, suspected iERI was associated with lower mortality and better neurological outcomes. Conclusions Suspected iERI could represent sterile inflammation or lower bacterial load leading to false-negative cultures. There is a need for improved microbiology diagnostics and biomarkers of bacterial infection to permit accurate discrimination and improve antimicrobial stewardship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sei Yon Sohn
- Division of Anaesthesia, University of Cambridge , Cambridge , U.K
| | - Clark D Russell
- University of Edinburgh Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute , Edinburgh , U.K
| | - Aimun AB Jamjoom
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , U.K
| | - Michael T Poon
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh , Edinburgh , U.K
| | - Aaron Lawson McLean
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jena University Hospital – Friedrich Schiller University Jena , Jena , Germany
| | - Aminul I Ahmed
- Wolfson CARD, King’s College London and Department of Neurosurgery, King’s College Hospital , London , U.K
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Bartlett RJV, Hill CAR, Rigby AS, Chandrasekaran S, Narayanamurthy H. MRI of the cervical spine with neck extension: is it useful? Br J Radiol 2012; 85:1044-51. [PMID: 22215879 DOI: 10.1259/bjr/94315429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Standard MRI of the cervical spine is performed in a different anatomical position to that utilised for traditional contrast myelography. Those well practised in myelography are familiar with the considerable changes in configuration of the bony and soft tissues of the cervical spine that may occur with changes in the degree of neck flexion and extension. We set out to compare the findings in a select group of patients with myeloradiculopathy who had undergone myelography and MRI in both standard and neck-extended positions. These findings were correlated with the clinical status. METHODS 29 patients underwent myelography with CT (CTM) and MRI in neutral and neck-extended positions. The imaging was assessed for the degree of cord compression and neural foraminal narrowing, quantified using a simple grading scheme suitable for routine clinical practice. The degree of neck extension was assessed using an angular measurement. RESULTS For both CTM and MRI, scanning with the neck extended significantly increases the severity of cord compression compared with the standard supine position, to a degree similar to that shown during conventional prone myelography. The degree of perceived cord compression is related to the degree of neck extension achieved. Correlation of standard MRI findings and the clinical level of radiculopathy is poor. This correlation improves when the neck is extended. CONCLUSIONS The most appropriate position for routine MRI of the cervical spine in degenerative disease remains unknown, but in selected patients imaging with the neck extended may provide important additional information.
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