Cerebrospinal fluid cell count variability is a major confounding factor in external ventricular drain-associated infection surveillance diagnostics: a prospective observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

External ventricular drain (EVD)-related infections (EVDIs) are feared complications that are difficult to rapidly and correctly diagnose, which can lead to unnecessary treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. No readily available diagnostic parameters have been identified to reliably predict or identify EVDIs. Moreover, intraventricular hemorrhage is common and affect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cellularity. The relationship between leukocytes and erythrocytes is often used to identify suspected infection and triggers the use of antibiotics pending results of cultures, which may take days. Cell count based surveillance diagnostics assumes a homogeneous distribution of cells in the CSF. Given the intraventricular sedimentation of erythrocytes on computed tomography scans

SUBMITTER: Badholm M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8359042 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature