Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection caused by Corynebacterium sp: case report and review

Brain Inj. 2014;28(9):1223-5. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2014.919535. Epub 2014 Jun 9.

Abstract

Background: A 36-year-old immunocompetent woman with a posterior fossa arteriovenous malformation (PF-AVM) and hydrocephalus presented with low fever and mental confusion 4 days after ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS).

Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ventricular catheter tip cultures isolated Corynebacterium sp. Similar to previous cases in the literature, species determination was not possible. However, the antibiotic sensitivity profile of this isolate suggested Corynebacterium jeikeium. Conversion to external ventricular drainage (EVD) was done and intravenous vancomycin was administered for 21 days.

Results and conclusions: The patient showed progressive improvement. Since the first CSF shunt infection caused by Corynebacterium sp., 16 other cases in the literatures have been reported. Additionally, this study reports the difficulties in recognizing CSF shunt infection caused by this agent and the possible clinical or laboratory patterns as observed in the literature.

Keywords: CSF shunt infection; Corynebacterium; hydrocephalus; ventriculitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Catheterization / adverse effects
  • Confusion / drug therapy
  • Confusion / etiology
  • Confusion / microbiology*
  • Corynebacterium / isolation & purification*
  • Corynebacterium Infections / diagnosis*
  • Corynebacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Drainage
  • Female
  • Fever / drug therapy
  • Fever / etiology
  • Fever / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / drug therapy
  • Hydrocephalus / etiology
  • Hydrocephalus / microbiology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vancomycin / administration & dosage
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / adverse effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin