Central nervous system infection prevention
Some preventive measures including vaccines, antibiotics, and surgical procedures are available. However, for many of these central nervous system infections, preventive measures are lacking or less effective than those for infections in other organs 1)
The rate of central nervous system infection (CNSI) is marginal and antibiotics do not appear to confer a protective advantage. A larger trial is needed to elucidate the true effect of antibiotics on preventing CNSIs in patients with posttraumatic pneumocephalus or cerebrospinal fluid leak 2).
Neurosurgical procedures and immunocompromisation are major risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus central nervous system infections. Hand hygiene, surveillance nasal swabs and perioperative prophylaxis are crucial points for effective SA infections prevention. In case of SA-CNS infections, pending microbiological results, anti-methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) antibiotic, with good CNS penetration, should be included, with prompt de-escalation as soon as MRSA is ruled out. Consultation with an expert in antimicrobial therapy is recommended as well as prompt source control when feasible 3).