Javier Aguilar, MD, Varinia Urday-Cornejo, MD, Susan Donabedian, MPH, Mary Perri, MT,
Robert Tibbetts, PhD, and Marcus Zervos, MD
Abstract: Staphylococcus aureus meningitis is a challenging disease
Abbreviations: agr = accessory gene regulator, CA-MRSA =
and little is known about its epidemiology. There are no established
community-associated MRSA, CNS = central nervous system,
management guidelines. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical infor-
CSF = cerebrospinal fluid, MIC = minimum inhibitory concentra-
mation, bacteriologic data, and outcomes of all 33 patients with cere-
tion, MRSA = methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MSSA =
brospinal fluid (CSF) cultures positive for S aureus seen at a single
methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, PCR = polymerase
urban teaching hospital from 1999 to 2008. Pulsed-field gel electropho-
chain reaction, PFGE = pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, PVL =
resis (PFGE) and polymerase chain reaction for staphylococcal cassette
Panton-Valentine leukocidin, SCCmec = staphylococcal cassette
chromosome mec (SCCmec), accessory gene regulator (agr) typing,
chromosome mec, VP = ventriculoperitoneal.
and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) loci were done on methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) CSF isolates starting in 2005.
S aureus caused 12 (36%) cases of postoperative and 21 (64%) cases
of hematogenous meningitis. MRSA isolates were found in 6 (50%)cases of postoperative and 10 (48%) cases of hematogenous meningitis.
Although the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus meningitis
is small compared with other causes of acute bacterial men-
Twelve (75%) of the 16 MRSA infections occurred in the last 5 years
ingitis, its incidence is growing, especially meningitis caused by
of the study. Hematogenous meningitis was associated with older age
community-associated methicillin-resistant strains of S aureus
( p = 0.04), injection drug use ( p G 0.01), community-acquired infection
(CA-MRSA).1,2,26,39 In the United States, S aureus meningitis
( p G 0.01), underlying disease ( p = 0.01), staphylococcal infection
accounts for 1%Y3% of cases of meningitis and is associated
outside the central nervous system ( p = 0.01), altered mental status
with a high mortality rate of about 50% in adults.13,31,34 World-
( p = 0.02), fever ( p = 0.01), septic shock ( p = 0.03), and bacteremia
wide, S aureus meningitis constitutes 0.3%Y8.8% of all cases of
( p G 0.01). The analysis of the 9 MRSA isolates showed 3 PFGE types:
3 USA100 (33%), 5 USA300 (56%), and 1 USAnot100-1100 (11%).
S aureus meningitis has 2 distinct pathogenic mechanisms.
For SCCmec typing, there were 2 (22%) type II and 7 (78%) type IV.
In ‘‘postoperative’’ meningitis,10,43 bacteria are introduced dur-
All USA300 strains were SCCmec IVa. For agr typing, there were 5
ing neurosurgical procedures, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt
(56%) type I and 4 (44%) type II. Three isolates (33%) were positive
device placement, trauma, or spreading from contiguous infec-
for the PVL gene and were USA300 strains. Most patients received
tion. In the second group, ‘‘hematogenous’’ or ‘‘spontaneous’’
nafcillin or vancomycin with or without rifampin or trimethoprim/
meningitis, S aureus is disseminated systemically, after bacter-
sulfamethoxazole for a mean period of 17 days (range, 1Y42 d). Overall
emic spread, secondary to staphylococcal infection outside the
mortality was 36%, and it was associated with community-acquired in-
An increasing number of cases of staphylococcal meningi-
Postoperative and hematogenous S aureus meningitis are distinct
tis have been reported over the last few years, as well as new
clinical syndromes. S aureus hematogenous meningitis has devastating
and different approaches and therapeutic options.1Y3,15,19,24,25,36,39
clinical consequences and elevated mortality rates, especially if it is
There are no current established guidelines for S aureus men-
acquired in the community. The incidence of MRSA meningitis in-
ingitis treatment, and optimal management for this infec-
creased over the last 5 years of the study. Treatment of choice is nafcillin
tion is still unknown. The most commonly used antimicrobial
for methicillin-sensitive strains and vancomycin for MRSA strains. The
regimens for S aureus meningitis have been nafcillin for
addition of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or rifampin to vancomycin is
methicillin-susceptible S aureus strains (MSSA) and vancomycin
recommended in severe cases and community-acquired MRSA infec-
with or without rifampin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for
tions. Linezolid is also a good option due to its good CSF penetration
methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). New antimicrobial agents
and favorable case reports. The mortality rate is higher in infections
such as linezolid15,17,27 and daptomycin19,42 have been used with
good outcomes in the United States and in other countries in
Europe and Asia. In the study presented here, we review the epi-demiology, clinical features, response to treatment, and outcomeof 33 cases of staphylococcal meningitis.
From Division of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (JA, VUC, SD,MP, RT, MZ), Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan; and Wayne StateUniversity School of Medicine (MZ), Detroit, Michigan.
Dr. Zervos has received grants from Pfizer, Cubist Pharmaceuticals,
We performed a retrospective study at Henry Ford Hospital,
Ortho-McNeil, and Astellas Pharma, and has served on speaker
a 903-bed tertiary teaching institution located in urban Detroit,
Reprints: Javier Aguilar, MD, Division of Infectious Diseases, Henry Ford
Michigan, serving a population of 1 million people. We reviewed
Hospital, 2799 West Grand Boulevard, CFP-304, Detroit, MI 48202
the medical records of all adult patients who were diagnosed
with S aureus meningitis between January 1999 and December
Copyright * 2010 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
2008. Patients were identified from the microbiology laboratory
ISSN: 0025-7974DOI: 10.1097/MD.0b013e3181d5453d
records. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory information was
Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
Copyright @ 2010 Lippincott Wil iams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
collected. Clinical information included predisposing factors,
determined to be of the same PFGE strain group if their SmaI
past medical history, comorbidities, mode of acquisition, source
restriction patterns were 80% similar using the Dice coefficient.37
of infection, description of staphylococcal infections outside
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to
the CNS, as well as therapeutic management, length of
determine the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec
(SCCmec) types I, II, III, and IV.28 Accessory gene regulator(agr) typing was performed for all isolates,38 as was detection of
the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin genes, lukS-PV, andlukF-PV.21
A definitive diagnosis of S aureus meningitis was con-
firmed by isolation of S aureus in 1 or more CSF cultures; clinicalevidence of meningeal inflammation, such as fever, altered
mental status, and meningeal signs; abnormal CSF features in-
Continuous variables were compared using the t test.
cluding at least 1 of the following: pleocytosis (9250 leukocytes
Dichotomous data were compared using either a chi-square test
per KL), increased lactate concentration (93.5 mmol/L),
or Fisher exact test when appropriate. A p value of less than
decreased glucose ratio (CSF to serum G 0.4) or decreased
0.05 was considered statistically significant. This study was
glucose level (G2.5 mmol/L) if no simultaneous serum glucose
approved by the Henry Ford Hospital Institutional Review Board
was measured.6 Cases were classified by the mode of ac-
quisition as either postoperative meningitis or hematogenousmeningitis. Postoperative meningitis included meningitis sec-
ondary to neurosurgery, invasive procedures, lumbar punctures,shunt devices, or trauma. Hematogenous meningitis included
patients who had no history of neurosurgical procedures or
From January 1999 to December 2008, 668 cases of
trauma. Health care-associated (nosocomial) meningitis was
bacterial meningitis occurred, of which 33 (4.9%) cases were
defined as infection not present when the patient was admit-
caused by S aureus. Sixteen of the 33 (48%) cases were caused
ted to the hospital, incubating at the time of admission and
by MRSA and 17 (52%) by MSSA. Among the 33 cases of S
no sooner than 48 hours after admission, or meningitis up to
aureus meningitis, 12 (36%) cases were postoperative menin-
1 month after discharge from the hospital where the patient had
gitis and 21 (64%) cases were hematogenous meningitis. MRSA
undergone neurosurgery or an invasive procedure.
isolates were found in 6 (50%) cases of postoperative and 10
CSF samples were initially obtained through lumbar punc-
(48%) cases of hematogenous meningitis. The frequency of
ture or aspiration of shunt tubing. Laboratory information on
presentation varied from 1 to 5 cases per year, with 12 (75%) of
initial and follow-up CSF samples included cell count and dif-
the 16 infections caused by MRSA seen in the last 5 years of the
ferential, protein levels, lactate concentration, glucose ratio (CSF
study. No MSSA meningitis infections occurred from 2006 to
to serum), and glucose concentration. Results on blood cultures,
2008. Table 1 compares demographic and clinical information
echocardiographic imaging (transthoracic and transesophageal),
between cases of postoperative and hematogenous meningitis.
and radiographic studies (computed tomography and magneticresonance imaging) at presentation were also collected.
Patients with hematogenous meningitis were older (mean
age, 55.9 yr vs. 47 yr; p = 0.04) and had a higher frequency of
community-acquired infection (71% vs. 8%; p G 0.01) than
Gram staining was performed on all CSF samples. S aureus
patients with postoperative meningitis. Patients with hematog-
isolates were identified using routine microbiologic methods. In
enous meningitis had underlying diseases more frequently than
vitro susceptibilities were determined following Clinical and
patients with postoperative meningitis (95% vs. 28%; p = 0.01).
Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards (CLSI, Wayne,
The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular disease,
PA). In vitro susceptibility to vancomycin was initially deter-
diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and liver cirrhosis. In
mined by the clinical microbiology laboratory using automated
the group with hematogenous meningitis, 11 (52%) of 21
microdilution with Vitek-2 (bio-Merieux, Durham, NC). Induc-
patients were intravenous drugs users. There were no intrave-
ible clindamycin resistance was determined using the D-zone
nous drug users in the postoperative group. The frequency of
test as described by the CLSI. In vitro susceptibilities to van-
associated staphylococcal infection outside the CNS was higher
comycin and daptomycin were determined using the E-test,
in patients with hematogenous meningitis compared to patients
following the instructions provided by the manufacturer (AB-
with postoperative meningitis (71% vs. 25%; p = 0.01).
Biodisk, Solna, Sweden). Isolates were screened for heteroresis-
Paraspinal and/or epidural abscesses (n = 5), endocarditis
tance to vancomycin using the macrodilution method E-test.44
(n = 5), skin or soft tissue infections (n = 2), and pneumonia
Genomic DNA was prepared and digested with SmaI (New
(n = 2) accounted for all the infections outside of the CNS in
England BioLabs, Beverly, MA) using a previously described
method.23 SmaI fragments were separated using a CHEF-DR III
Fever (86% vs. 42%; p = 0.01), septic shock (57% vs. 17%;
apparatus (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA) using the following settings:
p = 0.03), and altered mental status (76% vs. 33%; p = 0.02)
initial switch time, 5 s; final switch time, 35 s; voltage, 6 V/cm; run
were found to be more frequent in the hematogenous meningitis
time, 21 h; temperature, 14-C. NCTC 8325 was the reference
group. Meningeal signs, headaches, and focal neurologic deficits
standard used, which was run in lanes 1, 8, and 15 of a 15-well gel.
were more common in the postsurgical group, although the
Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were compared
differences were not statistically significant.
using the BioNumerics software program (Applied Maths,
Intracranial devices (n = 10; 83%), recent neurosurgery
Belgium). All of the MRSA isolates in this study were compared
(n = 6; 50%), and CSF leakage (n = 1; 8%) were the most
to MRSA strains USA100 to j1100 (Network on Antimicrobial
common predisposing conditions for postoperative meningitis.
Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, Herndon, VA) as described
All patients who had obstructive hydrocephalus requiring shunts
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.23 Isolates were
had ventriculoperitoneal (VP) devices (n = 9; 75%). No other
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Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
TABLE 1. Comparison of Postoperative Meningitis and Hematogenous Meningitis
Laboratory information: analytical features
type of CSF shunt was seen. Meningitis was an early complica-
nous meningitis had a higher frequency of bacteremia than pa-
tion of neurosurgery, occurring within 2 weeks to 1 month after
tients with postoperative meningitis (76% vs. 17%; p G 0.01).
placement of VP shunts or intracranial devices. In the 3 patients
MRSA isolates were found in 6 (50%) patients with postop-
with postoperative meningitis who did not have a VP shunt, the
erative meningitis and in 10 (48%) patients with hematogenous
infection was evident 2 weeks after intracranial chemotherapy
meningitis. Of these 16 patients, 8 (50%) were susceptible to
device placement for glioblastoma multiforme, 3 weeks after a
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and 4 (25%) of them were also
lumbar puncture due to pseudotumor cerebri, and 3 weeks after
susceptible to clindamycin. All of these 8 patients presented with
arteriovenous malformation repair surgery. respectively. Two
a community-acquired infection. Two MRSA-infected patients
(17%) patients with obstructive hydrocephalus and VP shunts
had vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)
had also a S aureus surgical wound infection.
92 Kg/mL, and 1 of them was susceptible to rifampin. One pa-tient was found to have a vancomycin intermediate resistant
S aureus isolate (VISA, Vitek-2, and E-test MIC = 4 Kg/mL),
CSF samples were obtained through aspiration of the shunt
which was resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and ri-
tubing in all 9 cases of shunt-related infection and by lum-
fampin, but susceptible to linezolid.
bar puncture in the remaining 24 patients. CSF features were
PGFE and PCR for PVL, SCCmec type, and agr were
similar in both groups (see Table 1). No statistically significant
done on isolates from 9 patients. The analysis of the MRSA
differences were found regarding the CSF leukocyte count,
isolates showed 3 PFGE types: 3 USA100 (33%), 5 USA300
gram stain, protein concentration, glucose level, CSF to serum
(56%), and 1 USAnot100-1100 (11%). For SCCmec typing,
glucose ratio, or lactate concentration. Patients with hematoge-
there were 2 (22%) type II and 7 (78%) type IV. All USA300
Copyright @ 2010 Lippincott Wil iams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
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Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
Copyright @ 2010 Lippincott Wil iams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
strains were SCCmec IVa. For agr typing, there were 5 (56%)
(range, 10Y21 d). Clinical presentation, molecular analysis,
type I and 4 (44%) type II. Three isolates (33%) were positive
administered treatment, and outcomes are summarized in
for the PVL gene and were USA300 strains. All 3 patients
Table 2 and Table 3 for MSSA and MRSA cases, respectively.
with USA100 strains had postoperative meningitis and nosoco-
The mortality rate was higher in cases of hematogenous
mial infection, and 1 of them died. All 5 patients with USA300
meningitis than in cases of postoperative meningitis (43% vs.
strains had hematogenous meningitis, admitted with sepsis, and
25%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Table 4
3 (60%) were acquired in the community. One of them died in
gives the main characteristics of the patients who died compared
with those who survived. Mortality was more frequent incommunity-acquired infections than in nosocomial infections
(p = 0.03). There were no statistical differences in mortality
At presentation, 15 (45%) patients received ceftriaxone and
regarding mode of acquisition, clinical presentation, underlying
vancomycin as empiric therapy for bacterial meningitis, and in 1
diseases, bacteremia, or type of isolate.
of them ampicillin was also administered. In the other 18 (55%)patients, appropriate antibiotic therapy was started an average of24 hours after presentation, when preliminary results of CSF and
gram stain were available. Once the diagnosis of S aureus
In the current study, S aureus meningitis accounted for
meningitis was established, patients with MSSA infections
4.9% (33/668) of the cases of adult culture-proven bacterial
received nafcillin (n = 15; mortality rate 27%) and piperacillin/
meningitis. Even though the frequency of S aureus meningitis is
tazobactam (n = 1; patient died). One patient was kept on the
small compared to other causes of acute bacterial meningitis,32
combination of ceftriaxone and vancomycin and died a few
its incidence is growing in the United States13,31,34 and world-
hours after admission and before the final identification of the
wide.4,9,41 According to current epidemiologic trends, there
isolate. Patients with MRSA infections received vancomycin
has been a recent shift from methicillin-susceptible strains to
alone (n = 11; mortality rate 45%), vancomycin with trimeth-
methicillin-resistant strains. Over the last 5 years, an increasing
oprim/sulfamethoxazole (n = 3; mortality rate 33%), vancomy-
number of cases of meningitis due to CA-MRSA infection have
cin and rifampin (n = 2; both patients survived), and the patient
been reported, especially in the United States,29 Asia,5,6 and
infected by a VISA strain received linezolid (patient survived).
many countries in Europe,1,30,39 with a significant number oc-
The length of treatment was a mean of 17 days (range, 1Y42 d)
curring in intravenous drug users but also in healthy individuals
and was based on the primary infection (for example, epidural
as noted by Naesens et al.26 This observation was confirmed in
abscess, skin and soft tissue infection, endocarditis). The 2
our study, with more than 75% of all cases of MRSA meningitis
patients who had a MIC 92 Kg/mL received vancomycin alone
occurring since 2005, and 11 (52%) cases of 21 hematogenous
and died. Twenty patients (67%) had 1 or more than 1 follow-up
meningitis cases occurring in intravenous drug users.
CSF analysis with sterilization of the cultures in a mean time of
Our findings agree with those of earlier studies,6,30 which
7.7 days. Neither steroids nor intrathecal antimicrobial therapy
have suggested that hematogenous and postoperative meningitis
was used in any patients in this series.
are distinct clinical entities and present differently. In these studies,
In patients with VP shunts (n = 9), all components of the
major differences in mortality were reported based on age dis-
shunt were eventually removed, with externalization performed
tribution, clinical features, and presentation,6,30 which were also
previously in 8 cases. One patient died before externalization
found in the present series. In comparison with postoperative
of the shunt. A new shunt device was placed after resolution of
meningitis, hematogenous meningitis is usually a community-
the infection in an average of 9 days in 8 patients, and treatment
acquired infection29 that mainly affects older patients with severe
was continued for an additional period of 14 days on average
underlying conditions such as a cardiovascular condition, chronickidney disease, or diabetes.30 Recently, there have been manyreports of cases of S aureus meningitis in healthy patients, with nochronic comorbidities.1,2,24,39 Hematogenous CNS infection also
TABLE 4. Mortality: Comparison of Patients Who Died and
occurs due to dissemination from distant sources such as epidural
abscesses, endocarditis, skin and soft tissue infection, or pneu-
monia.6,30 The current study confirmed the observations that bac-
teremia and extra-CNS infections were seen more frequently in
hematogenous than in postoperative meningitis. Cases of menin-gitis due to infection spreading from surrounding structures such
as paranasal sinuses and consequent cavernous sinus thrombosis
were also described.24 Concordant with the increasing incidence
of S aureus bacteremia in intravenous drug users in Detroit,7 in the
current study we found that 52% of patients in the hematogenous
meningitis group were intravenous drug users, and 33% had
chronic liver disease related to hepatitis B and/or C infection.
Hematogenous meningitis patients present with more severe
illness compared to patients with postoperative meningitis, with
altered mental status, fever, and septic shock.5,6,30 No differences
in the frequency of meningeal signs, focal neurologic findings, or
seizures between the groups were found in the current study.
Meningitis and shunt infections are the most common
nosocomial CNS infections. Almost all cases of nosocomial
meningitis develop postoperatively.10 The reported risk factorsfor nosocomial meningitis include postoperative CSF leakage,
intraventricular shunt operations, external ventricular drainage,
Copyright @ 2010 Lippincott Wil iams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
repeated surgery, and emergency surgery,10 and it is described
produces. In the present study, mortality was not seen in patients
more frequently in young people, without chronic comorbidities
treated with the combination of vancomycin and rifampin, and
and with obstructive hydrocephalus.30 S aureus and coagulase-
was 33% in patients who received the combination of van-
negative Staphylococcus are known to be frequent gram-positive
comycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, compared with
pathogens in postoperative nosocomial meningitis, particularly
45% in patients treated with vancomycin alone. Two patients
involving intracranial devices.6,18,30 Our results support these
who had vancomycin MICs 92 Kg/mL and received vancomy-
observations and confirm that those infections occur immedi-
cin alone died due to unresolved meningeal infection. Van-
ately after surgery or up to 1 month after an invasive procedure.6,30
comycin failures are described and may be attributed to its poor
Series of nosocomial meningitis identified mortality risk factors
CSF penetration. The CSF to serum ratios are only approxi-
in these patients and include the type of microorganism that
mately 20% in patients without meningitis and 50% in patients
causes meningitis, the underlying brain disease, initial conscious-
with meningitis.26 There are sporadic case reports of suc-
ness level, low CSF glucose concentration, presence of bacter-
cessful treatment of MRSA meningitis with linezolid.15,17,27,35
emia, and inappropriate antibiotic use.10
This may be explained in part by the excellent CSF penetra-
CSF analytical characteristics were similar in both groups.
tion of linezolid (CSF to serum ratios of approximately 70%).17
CSF analysis showed a low yield of organisms6,30 when using
Naesens et al26 in their literature review described 3 cases of
the gram stain with only 25% positive samples in postoperative
CA-MRSA infection that received linezolid and had complete
meningitis and 14% in hematogenous meningitis. Bacteremia is
resolution of the infection. In the current series we also describe
common in hematogenous S aureus meningitis and has been
1 case of nosocomial, postoperative meningitis caused by a
observed in 64%Y100% of patients.5,6,30 In the current study
heterogeneous resistant S aureus strain (VISA, Vitek-2, and
bacteremia was significantly more frequent in hematogenous
E-test MIC = 4 Kg/mL) that had a complete resolution of the
meningitis, and, as described previously, it is primarily a bac-
infection. As far as we know, this is the fourth case described
teremic dissemination of an extrameningeal staphylococcal
in the literature of MRSA meningitis treated successfully with
infectionVfor instance, septic shock is more frequent in this
linezolid. However, more data on comparative antimicrobial
The present study extends the findings of earlier studies by
Recently, daptomycin has been shown to be effective in the
including molecular analysis of MRSA strains and strains of S
treatment of S aureus meningitis.19,42 In a rabbit meningitis model,
aureus with reduced in vitro susceptibility to vancomycin. As far
daptomycin showed significantly superior bactericidal activity
as we know, this is the first S aureus meningitis series in which
compared with vancomycin therapy.14,19 There are also reports of
molecular analysis is performed. Isolates of S aureus were
MRSA meningitis successfully treated with daptomycin.19,42 It
available from 9 patients; 5 were MRSA USA300 strains with
must be noted that some isolates of USA300 CA-MRSA have
SCCmec IVa and agr I. All of these isolates were associated with
already been described as nonsusceptible to daptomycin in vitro.
hematogenous meningitis, and 3 of them were positive for PVL.
Other alternative antimicrobial agents used with success include
Earlier reports have suggested that PVL-positive strains have
dalbavancin8 for MRSA and flucloxacillin for MSSA,33 but these
unique epidemiologic and clinical characteristics, including
are not available in the United States.
more metastatic disease.1 Three of the 5 patients with CA-
The empiric treatment for meningitis is still vancomycin
MRSA infections presented with sepsis, and 1 of them died with
and ceftriaxone. Then, after cultures and susceptibilities are
septic shock. Postoperative meningitis and nosocomial disease
finalized, we recommend a high dose of beta-lactamase-resistant
were caused by USA100 strains in 3 patients, concordant with
penicillin (oxacillin or nafcillin) for MSSA infections and van-
findings in previous molecular studies.7 One patient had an
comycin for MRSA infections. In the present series, the numbers
MRSA USAnot100-1100 strain and corresponded to a postop-
of MRSA-infected patients treated with each regimen was too
erative meningitis case. The later 4 strains contained agr II and
small to draw a statistical conclusion; however, based on our
mortality rates, we recommend using the combination of van-
The objective of initial empiric antibiotic therapy is to
comycin with either rifampin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole,
achieve adequate therapeutic levels in CSF, in addition to
or switching to linezolid after further susceptibility testing is
providing activity against possible pathogens. When CSF culture
performed, especially when dealing with severe MRSA infec-
reveals a particular bacterial pathogen, treatment should be
directed toward the specific pathogen depending on the results
The optimal duration of treatment is not known. Some studies
of in vitro susceptibility. The therapy of S aureus meningitis is
support the use of a 3-week course of antibiotic therapy.11 In the
challenging because of the limited therapeutic options in the
current study, sterilization of CSF cultures occurred after a mean
setting of increasing antimicrobial resistance, the difficulty in
period of 7.7 days. The length of treatment should be based on the
achieving therapeutic drug concentrations in the CSF, and the lack
primary infection in all cases with a simultaneous infection outside
of established management guidelines. The concentration reached
the CNS (for example, epidural abscess, skin and soft tissue in-
in compartments with low immune defense such as the CSF is an
fection, endocarditis). In cases of postoperative meningitis, appro-
important factor for treatment success, and it depends on its
priate antibiotic therapy should be initiated, followed by removal
physicochemical properties and the degree of absorption through
of the shunt or infected intracranial device as soon as possible
and continuation of therapy until the infection clears. Once that
Semisynthetic beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins are con-
goal is achieved, placement of a new shunt should be followed
sidered the therapy of choice for MSSA meningitis, with nafcillin
by continuation of antibiotic therapy for at least 14 days. Ad-
and oxacillin the most commonly used drugs. In our study,
juvant steroid therapy shows no benefit in the treatment of
mortality in patients who received nafcillin alone was 27%. The
staphylococcal meningitis20 and could potentially reduce CSF
optimal therapy for MRSA meningitis has not been established,
penetration of antimicrobial agents. Other studies have also
but generally has been vancomycin with or without rifampin or
assessed the benefit of intrathecal antibiotic therapy, with dif-
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Vancomycin should also be used
in patients with penicillin allergy. CA-MRSA presents a unique
Mortality associated with S aureus meningitis is high
challenge due to its pathogenicity and the severity of disease it
(14%Y77%), and usually higher in hematogenous meningitis
Copyright @ 2010 Lippincott Wil iams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Medicine & Volume 89, Number 2, March 2010
(19%Y71%) than in postoperative meningitis (11%Y28%).30 In
infections caused by methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive
the current series the overall mortality was 36%, and it was
strains. Infection. 2001;29:245Y250.
different in the 2 groups: 43% for hematogenous meningitis and
7. Chua T, Moore CL, Perri MB, Donabedian SM, Masch W, Vager D,
25% for postoperative meningitis, but with no statistical dif-
Davis SL, Lulek K, Zimnicki B, Zervos MJ. Molecular epidemiology
ference. In our series, infections acquired in the community were
of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream
significantly associated with mortality, a finding that has a great
isolates in urban Detroit. J Clin Microbiol. 2008;46:2345Y2352.
impact in the management of these patients. No differences were
8. Drew RH. Emerging options for treatment of invasive,
found regarding age, the presence of severe underlying diseases,
multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
altered mental status, bacteremia, septic shock, or the antimi-
crobial susceptibility of the strain when we compared mortality
9. Dzupova O, Rozsypal H, Prochazka B, Benes J. Acute bacterial
among hematogenous and postoperative meningitis. The limita-
meningitis in adults: predictors of outcome. Scand J Infect Dis.
tions of this study include its retrospective design and the fact
that it was performed in a single center study. Its strengths are
10. Erdem I, Hakan T, Ceran N, Metin F, Akcay SS, Kucukercan M,
the number of cases collected over a period of 10 years and
Berkman MZ, Goktas P. Clinical features, laboratory data, management
the addition of molecular analysis to the evaluation of MRSA
and the risk factors that affect the mortality in patients with
postoperative meningitis. Neurol India. 2008;56:433Y437.
In conclusion, S aureus meningitis is a relatively uncommon
but serious type of acute bacterial meningitis that is progressively
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