Adult Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Meningitis in Qatar: Clinical Characteristics and Therapeutic Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have emerged as a major pathogen in nosocomial meningitis. This study was designed to describe the clinical profile, laboratory parameters, treatment, and outcomes of CoNS meningitis in patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital, Qatar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective hospital-based study described the patients with CoNS meningitis from 2009 to 2013. RESULTS: Twelve patients were recruited for the study, of which there were 10 (83.3%) males and 2 (16.7%) females with a median age of 39 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 29–46 years). Fever was the most common presenting symptom being present in all patients, followed by mental alterations 7 (58.3%). All CoNS meningitis cases in this study were nosocomially acquired after neurosurgery and in most cases after external ventricular drain (EVD) insertion. The median time between the procedure and acquisition of infection was 13 days (IQR: 10–15.7 days). The isolated species include 8 (66.7%) Staphylococcus epidermidis, 2 (16.7%) Staphylococcus capitis, and 2 (16.7%) Staphylococcus haemolyticus. All CoNS isolates were sensitive to vancomycin while 75% of them were oxacillin resistance. In the eight patients with EVDs, the infected EVDs were removed, while all patients received empirical antibiotics involving mainly vancomycin and ceftriaxone that were modified upon receipt of culture results. All patients were cured, and no mortality was reported. CONCLUSIONS: CoNS meningitis is a recognized complication related to the introduction of neurosurgical devices. Because of its nonspecific clinical presentation, treating physicians should have a high suspicion index. If CoNS meningitis is highly suspected, vancomycin is the empirical treatment of choice while awaiting results of sensitivity.