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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Ablation of Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia Using a Multipolar Catheter and 3-dimensional Mapping System for High-density Electro-anatomical Reconstruction
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Ablation of Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia Using a Multipolar Catheter and 3-dimensional Mapping System for High-density Electro-anatomical Reconstruction

Published on: January 31, 2019

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The Organisms and Factors Affecting Outcomes of External Ventricular Drainage Catheter-Related Ventriculitis: A

Jo Ee Sam1, Chee Loon Lim2, Priya Sharda1

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Penang General Hospital, Penang, Malaysia.

Asian Journal of Neurosurgery
|April 24, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Ventriculostomy-related infections (VRIs) have a high mortality rate, with Acinetobacter baumannii being a common cause and showing significant antibiotic resistance. Early external ventricular drain removal and considering decompressive craniectomy can improve outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neurosurgery
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Ventriculostomy-related infection (VRI) is a serious complication of external ventricular drains (EVDs).
  • High mortality rates associated with VRI necessitate understanding risk factors and causative organisms.
  • Antibiotic choice for empiric treatment depends on local resistance patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine risk factors for mortality in patients with VRI.
  • To identify common organisms responsible for VRI and their antibiotic susceptibility.
  • To ascertain the incidence of EVD-related VRI at the institution.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records and operative data.
  • Inclusion criteria: patients with cerebrospinal fluid positive cultures and an EVD from 2012 to 2015.
  • Study population: 45 patients diagnosed with EVD-related VRI.

Main Results:

  • Overall VRI rate was 6.3% with a 48.9% mortality rate.
  • Acinetobacter baumannii was the most frequent pathogen (29.2%), exhibiting high resistance to meropenem and imipenem (only 14.3% sensitive).
  • Factors associated with increased mortality included steroid use, Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, polymicrobial infections, lower Glasgow Coma Scale, and prolonged EVD duration.

Conclusions:

  • VRI poses a significant mortality risk, compounded by alarming antibiotic resistance, particularly in Acinetobacter infections.
  • Prompt removal of EVDs is crucial.
  • Decompressive craniectomy may be a beneficial intervention for severe ventriculitis or meningitis.
Keywords:
Acinetobacterdecompressive craniectomyfatal outcomenosocomial meningitisrisk factorsventriculitis

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