Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan

Introduction: Multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter pose a serious therapeutic dilemma in hospital practice, particularly when they cause meningitis, as the few antimicrobial agents to which these isolates are susceptible have poor central nervous system (CNS) penetration.  Methodology: We...

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Main Authors: Ali Faisal Saleem, Muhammad Shafaat Shah, Abdul Sattar Shaikh, Fatima Mir, Anita K M Zaidi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2011-11-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1697
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author Ali Faisal Saleem
Muhammad Shafaat Shah
Abdul Sattar Shaikh
Fatima Mir
Anita K M Zaidi
author_facet Ali Faisal Saleem
Muhammad Shafaat Shah
Abdul Sattar Shaikh
Fatima Mir
Anita K M Zaidi
author_sort Ali Faisal Saleem
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter pose a serious therapeutic dilemma in hospital practice, particularly when they cause meningitis, as the few antimicrobial agents to which these isolates are susceptible have poor central nervous system (CNS) penetration.  Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course and outcome of eight consecutive cases of meningitis due to Acinetobacter spp. in children ages 15 years or less, seen in a tertiary care medical center in Karachi, Pakistan. Results: Of the eight cases of Acinetobacter meningitis, isolates from five patients were pan-resistant, and two were multidrug-resistant. A neurosurgical procedure was performed in five of eight patients followed by external ventricular drain insertion prior to the development of infection. Seven received intravenous (IV) polymyxin (mean; 12.8 days), while 5/8 also received intrathecal (IT) polymyxin (mean; 12.0 days). The mean length of hospitalization was 38.7 ± 19 days. All patients achieved cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture negativity by the end of treatment (mean; 5.4 days). Two patients died: one with pan-resistant Acinetobacter, and the second with a multi-drug resistant isolate. Conclusion: Post-neurosurgical multidrug-resistant and pan-resistant Acinetobacter meningitis can be successfully treated if appropriate antimicrobial therapy is instituted early. The role of IT polymyxin B administration alone versus combination therapy (IV and IT) needs further study.  
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publisher The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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spelling doaj-art-ecb52a475e2d4b668108b66cea3003dc2025-08-20T02:27:20ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802011-11-0151110.3855/jidc.1697Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, PakistanAli Faisal Saleem0Muhammad Shafaat Shah1Abdul Sattar Shaikh2Fatima Mir3Anita K M Zaidi4The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, PakistanThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, PakistanThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, PakistanThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, PakistanThe Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan Introduction: Multidrug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter pose a serious therapeutic dilemma in hospital practice, particularly when they cause meningitis, as the few antimicrobial agents to which these isolates are susceptible have poor central nervous system (CNS) penetration.  Methodology: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical course and outcome of eight consecutive cases of meningitis due to Acinetobacter spp. in children ages 15 years or less, seen in a tertiary care medical center in Karachi, Pakistan. Results: Of the eight cases of Acinetobacter meningitis, isolates from five patients were pan-resistant, and two were multidrug-resistant. A neurosurgical procedure was performed in five of eight patients followed by external ventricular drain insertion prior to the development of infection. Seven received intravenous (IV) polymyxin (mean; 12.8 days), while 5/8 also received intrathecal (IT) polymyxin (mean; 12.0 days). The mean length of hospitalization was 38.7 ± 19 days. All patients achieved cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture negativity by the end of treatment (mean; 5.4 days). Two patients died: one with pan-resistant Acinetobacter, and the second with a multi-drug resistant isolate. Conclusion: Post-neurosurgical multidrug-resistant and pan-resistant Acinetobacter meningitis can be successfully treated if appropriate antimicrobial therapy is instituted early. The role of IT polymyxin B administration alone versus combination therapy (IV and IT) needs further study.   https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1697multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter meningitismortalitychildrenneurosurgical procedure
spellingShingle Ali Faisal Saleem
Muhammad Shafaat Shah
Abdul Sattar Shaikh
Fatima Mir
Anita K M Zaidi
Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter meningitis
mortality
children
neurosurgical procedure
title Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan
title_full Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan
title_fullStr Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan
title_short Acinetobacter species meningitis in children: a case series from Karachi, Pakistan
title_sort acinetobacter species meningitis in children a case series from karachi pakistan
topic multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter meningitis
mortality
children
neurosurgical procedure
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/1697
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AT abdulsattarshaikh acinetobacterspeciesmeningitisinchildrenacaseseriesfromkarachipakistan
AT fatimamir acinetobacterspeciesmeningitisinchildrenacaseseriesfromkarachipakistan
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