Healthcare-associated meningitis and ventriculitis: diagnosis, treatment and prophylaxis

Abstract

Healthcare-associated meningitis and ventriculitis are a common problem of modern public health, which are characterized by diverse etiological spectrum of multidrug resistant microorganisms, presented by difficulties for early diagnosis and adequate treatment, and are often accompanied by a high risk of secondary complications and an unfavorable outcome. This article presents the clinical guidelines of the American Society of Infectious Diseases (IDSA) for the diagnosis and treatment of healthcare-associated meningitis and ventriculitis published in 2017 and may be useful for professionals working with this category of patients.

Keywords

• meningitis
• ventriculitis
• cerebrospinal fluid shunts
• cerebrospinal fluid drains
• central nervous system infections