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What is it about?

Intracranial pressure monitoring devices and drains (ICPD) may be used in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other neurocritical illnesses. Use of systemic antibiotic prophylaxis beyond 24 hours of device placement has yet to demonstrate a strong benefit and may be associated with increased risk of microbial resistance. The primary objective of the study was to determine the impact of prolonged systemic antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with ICPD on the growth of resistant microorganisms and Clostridium difficile. Patients receiving prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis for ICPD had a higher incidence of multidrug resistant organisms compared to controls. However, the incidence of C. difficile did not differ between groups. The current lack of data supporting prolonged antibiotics prophylaxis for ICPD and the risk of nosocomial infections with resistant organisms and C. difficile encourages a strategy of optimizing a short course of peri-operative antibiotics.

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