Streptococcus dysgalactiae-related intrathecal baclofen therapy infection: how to avoid withdrawal?

Abstract

Intrathecal baclofen therapy is commonly used for neurologically spastic patients. One of the major complications is hardware infection, which generally requires urgent removal of the pump and the intrathecal catheter, with the risk of severe baclofen withdrawal. We have recently been facing this situation and propose another solution with adapted antibiotic therapy, removal with immediate replacement of the intrathecal catheter, initially connected to an implanted port to continue baclofen administration. A new pump was secondarily implanted, after successful treatment of acute bacterial meningitis due to Streptococcus dysgalactiae.

Keywords

• Infection
• intrathecal baclofen therapy
• meningitis
• sepsis
• Streptococcus dysgalactiae