Characteristics of infections associated with external ventricular drains of cerebrospinal fluid

Summary Objectives Manifestations of external ventricular drain (EVD) – associated infections overlap with those of the underlying neurosurgical conditions. We analyzed characteristics of EVD-associated infections. Methods We included patients aged ≥18 years with EVD-associated infections from 1997 to 2008, using modified CDC criteria for nosocomial infections. Hospital charts were reviewed retrospectively and the in-hospital outcome was evaluated. Results Forty-eight patients with EVD-associated infections were included (median age, 52 years, range 20–74 years). The median EVD-indwelling time was 7 days (range, 1–39 days) and EVD-associated infection occurred 6 days after insertion (range, 1–17 days). In 23% of patients, meningitis occurred 1–10 days after EVD removal. Fever >38 °C was present in 79% of patients, but Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores were reduced in only 29%, and headache, vomiting and/or neck stiffness were present in only 31%. The median cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte count was higher at onset of EVD-associated infection than at EVD insertion (175 × 106 /l versus 46 × 106 /l, p = 0.021), but other CSF parameters did not differ significantly. The most commonly implicated organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (63%) and Propionibacterium acnes (15%). Conclusions Fever and increased CSF leukocytes should raise the suspicion of EVD-associated infection, which may occur up to 10 days after removal of EVD.