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Published on: March 26, 2019
Assessment of Bacterial Colonization of Intracranial Pressure Transducers: A Prospective Study
Roman Mounier1,2, Natacha Kapandji3, Guillaume Gricourt4
1Department of Anesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care, Henri Mondor University Hospital of Paris, Paris-Est Créteil University, 51, Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 94000, Créteil, France. roman.mounier@laposte.net.
Objectives:
Cerebral infections related to the presence of an intraparenchymal intracranial pressure transducer (ICPT) are rare. We assessed the incidence of ICPT-related infections and colonization using culture, molecular biology, and electron microscopy.
Methods:
All consecutive patients in a neurosurgical intensive care unit who had an ICPT inserted between March 2017 and February 2018 were prospectively included. Presence of colonization on the ICPTs was assessed after removal using culture, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Results:
Fifty-three ICPTs (53 patients), indwelling for a median of 4 (range 3-7) days, were studied. Median patient follow-up was 3 months. SEM, microbial culture, and NGS were performed for 91%, 79%, and 72% of ICPTs, respectively; 28 ICPTs (53%) were assessed using all three techniques. No patient developed ICPT-related infection. Microbial cultures were positive for two of the ICPTs (5%); colonization was identified on all ICPTs using NGS and SEM. Mature biofilm was observed on 35/48 (73%) of ICPTs. A median of 10 (8-12) operational taxonomic units were identified for each ICPT, most being of environmental origin. There was no association between biofilm maturity and antimicrobial treatment or duration of ICPT insertion. Antimicrobial treatment was associated with decreased alpha and beta-diversity (p = 0.01).
Conclusions:
We observed no ICPT-related cerebral infections although colonization was identified on all ICPTs using NGS and SEM. Mature biofilm was the main bacterial lifestyle on the ICPTs.
Insights
No cerebral infections occurred in patients with intraparenchymal intracranial pressure transducers (ICPTs), despite all ICPTs showing colonization. Mature biofilm was the primary bacterial presence on these devices.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Intraparenchymal intracranial pressure transducers (ICPTs) are crucial for managing neurosurgical patients.
- Cerebral infections associated with ICPTs are considered rare but pose significant risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence of ICPT-related infections and colonization.
- To characterize microbial presence on ICPTs using advanced techniques.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 53 patients with ICPTs in a neurosurgical intensive care unit.
- Post-removal analysis of ICPTs using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microbial culture, and next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Main Results:
- No ICPT-related cerebral infections were observed in any patient.
- Colonization was detected on all ICPTs via NGS and SEM, with mature biofilm present on 73%.
- Antimicrobial treatment correlated with reduced microbial diversity.
Conclusions:
- ICPTs can be colonized without causing cerebral infection.
- Mature biofilm formation is a common finding on ICPTs.
- Further research into biofilm management on ICPTs is warranted.
