Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Ventriculitis in a Child

Abstract

One of the most frequently encountered problems associated with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts which are used in the treatment of hydrocephaly is infection. Staphylococcus is considered the most prominent factor in VP shunt infections; Enterococcus is less likely to cause ventriculitis in such patients. A shunt ventriculitis was demonstrated in a 1.5-year-old boy. The VP shunts was removed and an external ventricular drainage system was inserted. Subsequently empiric vancomycin and cephotaxime treatment was started. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) began to proliferate in the cerebrospinal fluid culture, and therefore we initiated linezolid and imipenem therapy by the intravenous route. The patient underwent a VP shunt operation 45 days after. In this study, successful therapy with linezolid in VP shunt ventriculitis due to VREF is presented.