Catheter-Associated Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Ventriculitis and Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Pneumonia With Subsequent Acinetobacter Ventriculitis: A Case Report

Abstract

Ventriculitis is associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts, and rare microorganisms associated with infection include vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) faecium and Acinetobacter baumannii . Both organisms are known to cause nosocomial infections, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains presents a treatment challenge. There is a lack of consensus on antimicrobial agent selection for ventriculitis involving VRE faecium or MDR A. baumannii , which are life-threatening conditions. We present a case of a 59-year-old male presenting with CSF catheter-associated VRE faecium ventriculitis and MDR A. baumannii pneumonia who subsequently developed a nosocomial MDR A. baumannii ventriculitis. Both instances of ventriculitis were successfully treated with combination antibiotic therapy. VRE faecium ventriculitis was successfully treated with linezolid and intrathecal daptomycin. While daptomycin is not approved for Enterococcal infections, the synergistic effect of daptomycin in combination with linezolid proved effective. Although the MDR A. baumannii pneumonia was not cured with cefiderocol monotherapy, the MDR A. baumannii ventriculitis was successfully treated with combination therapy including cefiderocol, ampicillin/sulbactam, and intrathecal colistin. This highlights life-saving combination antibiotic therapies for ventriculitis caused by multiple rare and drug-resistant microorganisms.