Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Post-operative aseptic meningitis

  • Clinical Articles
  • Published:
Acta Neurochirurgica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Neurosurgical patients with post-operative meningitis often present with negative bacterial cultures. The symptoms and signs as well as laboratory findings are identical to those with verified bacterial meningitis. The aim of this study was to find out whether we are dealing with a sterile reaction, and antimicrobial treatment can safely be stopped.

24 patients with post-operative meningitis with negative bacterial cultures were randomized into two groups. Both were initially treated with chloramphenicol until the results of the bacterial cultures were available. Treatment was then withdrawn in one group and continued in the other. Chloramphenicol had no effect on the outcome and can therefore safely be stopped when adequate bacterial cultures are reported negative.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Becker WJet al (1984) Recurrent aseptic meningitis secondary to intracranial epidermoids. Can J Neurol Sci 11: 387–389

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Bland RD, Lister RC, Ries JP (1974) CSF lactic acic levels and pH in meningitis. Am J Dis Child 128: 151–156

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Blomstedt GC (1985) Infections in neurosurgery: A retrospective study of 1,143 patients and 1,517 operations. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 78: 81–90

    Google Scholar 

  4. Blomstedt GC (1986) Postoperative infections in neurosurgery. Academic Dissertation. Helsinki, Helsinki University, 951-99720-5-6.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Brook I, Bricknell KS, Overturf GDet al (1978) Measurements of lactic acid in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with infections of the central nervous system. J Infect Dis 137: 384–389

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Buckwold FJ, Hand R, Hansebout RR (1977) Hospital-acquired bacterial meningitis in neurosurgical patients. J Neurosurg 46: 494–500

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Carmel PW, Fraser RAR, Stein BM (1974) Aseptic meningitis following posterior fossa surgery in children. J Neurosurg 41: 44–48

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Corrall DR, Pepple JM, Moxon ERet al (1981) C-reactive protein in spinal fluid of children with meningitis. J Pediatr 99: 365–369

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Klerk de DJJ, Spence J (1974) Chemical meningitis with intracranial tumours. S Afr Med J 48: 131–135

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ellner JJ, Bennett JE (1976) Chronic meningitis. Medicine 55: 341–369

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Finegold SM, Martin WJ (1982) Diagnostic microbiology. St. Louis, CV Mosby Company

    Google Scholar 

  12. Finlayson AI, Penfield W (1941) Acute postoperative aseptic leptomeningitis. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 46: 250–276

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gorbach SL, Barlett JG (1974) Anaerobic infections (First of three parts). N Engl J Med 290: 1177–1184

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gorbach SL, Barlett JG (1974) Anaerobic infections (second of three parts). N Engl J Med 290: 1237–1245

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Heinemann HS, Braude AI (1963) Anaerobic infection of the brain. Observations on eighteen consecutive cases of brain abscess. Am J Med 35: 682–697

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Horwitz NH (1967) Postoperative complications in neurosurgical practice. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 9–10

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jackson IJ (1949) Aseptic hemogenic meningitis. An experimental study of aseptic meningeal reaction due to blood and its breakdown products. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 65: 572–589

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jansson E, Jalava L, Wagner O (1959) C-reactive protein in bacterial meningitis. Ann Med Exp Fenn 37: 371–376

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Knight JA, Dudek SM, Haymond RE (1981) Early (chemical) diagnosis of bacterial meningitis—cerebrospinal fluid glucose, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase compared. Clin Chem 27: 1431–1434

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Larbrisseau A, Renevey F, Brochu Pet al (1980) Recurrent chemical meningitis due to an intraspinal cystic teratoma. J Neurosurg 52: 715–717

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lennette EH (ed) (1980) Manual of clinical microbiology, 3rd ed. American Society for Microbiology, Washington D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mangi RJ, Quintiliani R, Andriole VT (1975) Gram-negative bacillary meningitis. Am J Med 59: 829–836

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Olivecrona H (1934) Die parasagittalen Meningeome. Thieme, Leipzig, pp 141–143

    Google Scholar 

  24. Peltola H (1982) C-reactive protein for rapid monitoring of infections of the central nervous system. Lancet I: 1980–1983

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pönkä A, Ojala K, Teppo A-Met al (1983) Aseptisen ja bakteerimeningiitin erotusdiagnostiikka selkäydinnestelöydösten perusteella. Duodecim 99: 470–476

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Rahal JJ (1980) Diagnosis and management of meningitis due to Gram-negative bacilli in adults. In: Remington JS, Current clinical topics in infectious diseases, No 1. Swartz MN (eds) McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 68–84

    Google Scholar 

  27. Rasmussen TB (1959) Preoperative and postoperative care of the neurosurgical patient. In: Pack GT, Ariel I (eds) Treatment of cancer and allied diseases, vol II. Tumors of the nervous system, 2nd ed. Paul B. Hoeber, New York, pp 43–52

    Google Scholar 

  28. Samson DS, Clark K (1973) A current review of brain abscess. Am J Med 54: 201–210

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Swartz MN, Karchmer AW (1975) Infections of the central nervous system. In: Balows Aet al (eds) Proceedings of an international conference on anaerobic bacteria. Ch C Thomas, Springfield, Ill, pp 309–325

    Google Scholar 

  30. Szabó M, Majtényi C, Guseo A (1983) Contribution to the background of Mollaret's meningitis. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 59: 115–118

    Google Scholar 

  31. Van Lente F (1982) The diagnostic utility of C-reactive protein. Hum Pathol12: 1061–1063

    Google Scholar 

  32. Vincent FM (1981) Hypoglycorrhachia after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurosurgery 8: 7–9

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. G. C. Blomstedt

    Present address: Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

Authors and Affiliations

    Authors
    1. G. C. Blomstedt
      View author publications

      You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

    Rights and permissions

    Reprints and permissions

    About this article

    Cite this article

    Blomstedt, G.C. Post-operative aseptic meningitis. Acta neurochir 89, 112–116 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01560375

    Download citation

    • Issue Date:

    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01560375

    Keywords

    Search

    Navigation