To retrospectively analyze the distribution characteristics of pathogenic bacteria in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with severe intracranial infection after craniotomy and treatment results. The aim was to provide a clinical basis and reference for improving treatment for severe intracranial infections.

This was a retrospective analysis of the distribution of pathogenic bacteria and the therapeutic effect for 43 patients who developed severe intracranial infections after craniotomy. All patients had positive CSF cultures and were treated in two hospitals in Beijing from May 2015 to May 2020. All patients received an intravenous injection of sensitive antibiotics combined with a CSF lateral ventricle catheter or lumbar cistern drainage. Antibiotic lavage treatment was administered through an external drain.

The CSF bacterial culture results for the 43 patients showed 34 single-strain infections (26 Gram-positive bacteria and 8 Gram-negative bacteria) and 9 multistrain infections. Fifty-two pathogenic strains were isolated, namely 32 Gram-positive bacteria (61.54%), 18 Gram-negative bacteria (34.61%), and 2 fungi (3.85%). After combined treatment, 29 patients (67.44%) were cured; treatment was effective for 7 patients (16.28%) and ineffective for 7 patients (16.28%). After 6 months of follow-up, the 36 surviving patients were cured of infection. The Glasgow Outcome Scale score results showed that 5 of the 36 (13.9%) patients had a persistent vegetative state; 13 (36.1%) had severe disability; 12 (33.3%) had moderate disability; and 6 (16.7%) had mild disability.

CSF pathogenic bacteria in patients with intracranial infection after craniotomy were mainly Gram-positive bacteria, primarily Staphylococcus epidermidis. A small number of patients had mixed bacterial infections. Owing to the presence of implanted devices in patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, the antibacterial therapeutic effect was worse than that for other types of postoperative infections. Therefore, when initial intravenous antibiotics are ineffective, the shunt device should be removed or replaced as soon as possible. When initial intravenous antibiotics are ineffective and severe intracranial infection occurs, a combined treatment plan should be adopted. That is, CSF drainage and antibiotic lavage should be performed cautiously with the intravenous injection of sensitive antibiotics. Our clinical data confirmed that postoperative neurosurgical infection could lead to different degrees of nerve dysfunction, which should be considered.