Related Experiment Videos
Flavobacterium odoratum ventriculitis treated with intraventricular cefotaxime
Insights
Intraventricular cefotaxime effectively treated ventriculitis caused by Flavobacterium odoratum in an infant. This targeted therapy rapidly eliminated bacteria, leading to a sterile cerebrospinal fluid and successful patient recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Hydrocephalus in infants can lead to secondary infections like ventriculitis.
- Flavobacterium odoratum is a rare but serious pathogen causing central nervous system infections.
Observation:
- A 6-week-old infant developed ventriculitis with heavy Flavobacterium odoratum growth.
- Initial intravenous cefotaxime therapy was ineffective in clearing the infection.
Findings:
- Intraventricular cefotaxime administration via a Pudenz reservoir demonstrated high antibacterial activity.
- Rapid elimination of bacteria and sterile ventricular fluid were observed during and after treatment.
- The infant recovered without sequelae after shunt placement.
Implications:
- Intraventricular antibiotic therapy is a viable treatment option for resistant ventriculitis.
- Targeted intraventricular administration can overcome challenges in treating CNS infections.
- This case highlights successful management of a rare pathogen in infant hydrocephalus.
Abstract:
A 6-week-old infant admitted to the University Hospital of the West Indies with hydrocephalus later developed ventriculitis. A heavy growth of Flavobacterium odoratum susceptible to gentamicin and cefotaxime was recovered from the ventricular fluid. Since intraventricular therapy was envisaged, a Pudenz reservoir was installed and ventricular fluid aspirated every 24 h to monitor treatment. Initial therapy consisted of intravenous cefotaxime, 50 mg/kg q.i.d. for 4 days. No significant reduction in the number of organisms in the ventricular fluid was achieved with this regimen. Intravenous therapy was therefore discontinued. On day 5 intraventricular therapy began with 5 mg cefotaxime 24 h for 6 days, followed by 1 mg/24 h for 4 days. Daily monitoring of intraventricular fluid indicated a high degree of antibacterial activity with rapid elimination of bacteria. Ventricular fluid remained sterile 10 days after therapy stopped. The Pudenz reservoir was removed, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt installed, and the patient discharged from hospital 4 days later without noticeable sequelae.