TREATMENT OF CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID SHUNT INFECTIONS WITH TEICOPLANIN

Intraventricular teicoplanin 10-15 mg was administered daily to three patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections due to Staphy lococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis. Teicoplanin concentrat ions in CSF 24 h after intrathecal injection of the drug exceeded four - to eight-fold the MICs for the infecting microorganisms. CSF culture s rapidly became negative and shunt devices were withdrawn and replace d in the same operative procedure. Intraventricular teicoplanin was we ll tolerated. No relapses occurred. Teicoplanin may be an alternative to vancomycin for the antimicrobial therapy of CSF shunt infections.