Impact of Antibiotic Therapy in the Microbiological Yield of Healthcare–Associated Ventriculitis and Meningitis.

The impact of antibiotic therapy on the diagnosis of healthcare–associated ventriculitis and meningitis (HCAVM) is unknown. Antibiotics were administered before obtaining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 217 out of 326 (66%) patients with HCAVM, and they impacted the sensitivity of the cerebrospinal fluid Gram stain and culture (P ≤.004). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]