Intrathecal vancomycin in the treatment of ommaya reservoir infection by staphylococcus epidermidis

Abstract

Ommaya reservoirs are frequently used in the treatment of patients with meningeal involvement by malignant diseases. The reported infections complications range between 5–50%. We describe a 35-year-old male patient with Staphylococcus epidermidis infection of an Ommaya reservoir in whom intravenous antibiotics and removal of the reservoir failed to eradicate the organism. The patient was treated successfully by intrathecal injections of vancomycin. Patients with Ommaya reservoir related infections that persist in spite of shunt removal may derive a therapeutic benefit from the intrathecal administration of appropriate antibiotics.