Intrathecal colistin for drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii central nervous system infection: a case series and systematic review

Treatment limitations exist for drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii central nervous system (CNS) infection. We conducted a retrospective study and systematic literature review to identify patients with drug-resistant A. baumannii CNS infection who received primary or adjunct intrathecal or intraventricular (IT/IVT) colistin. In a case series of seven Thai patients and 17 patients identified in the literature, clinical and microbiological cure rates with IT/IVT colistin therapy were 83% and 92%, respectively. Three patients (13%) developed chemical ventriculitis and one (4%) experienced treatment-associated seizures. Death was associated with delayed IT/IVT colistin therapy compared to survival (mean time from diagnosis to IT/IVT colistin, 7 vs. 2 days; p 0.01). The only independent predictor of mortality was the severity of illness (APACHE II score > 19, adjusted odds ratio 49.5; 95% CI 1.7–1428.6; p 0.02). This case series suggests that administration of primary or adjunctive IT/IVT colistin therapy was effective for drug-resistant A. baumannii CNS infection.