Objective: Central nervous system infections (CNSI) are serious diseases that endanger human health. Identifying pathogens and their susceptibility to antibiotics, and promptly using antibiotics under this guidance is essential for treatment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pathogen characteristics of CNSI patients, which can help clinicians choose appropriate empiric antibiotic .
Methods: We retrospectively collected data on CNSI patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture positive from 2012 to 2020, including demographic characteristics, laboratory data, pathogenic bacteria, and antimicrobial susceptibility test results.
Results: A total of 166 patients with 168 isolates out of 8188 patients were available for data analysis. Among the isolates, Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi accounted for 59.5%, 36.3%, and 4.2%, respectively. Among newborns, children under 12, and patients over 12, the most isolated strains were Streptococcus agalactiae  (24/46, 52.2%), Streptococcus pneumoniae  (21/68, 30.9%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis  (10/54, 18.5%), respectively. Streptococcus agalactiae  is more sensitive to linezolid and vancomycin. Streptococcus pneumoniae  is more sensitive to vancomycin. Staphylococcus epidermidis  is more sensitive to clindamycin and rifampicin. The sugar content in the CSF of Gram-negative bacteria of children ≤ 12 years old was significantly lower than that of Gram-positive bacteria (P< 0.05).
Conclusion: We comprehensively studied the etiological characteristics and antimicrobial resistance patterns of positive cerebrospinal fluid cultures in Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2012 to 2020, which can provide valuable strategies for preventing pathogens and improving evidence-based treatment.
Keywords: cerebrospinal fluid, bacterial culture, drug resistance, epidemiological characteristics