Intra Ventricular Colistin in Neonatal Brain Abscess Management: A Case of Multiple Brain Abscesses

Abstract

Neonatal Brain abscess is a rare sever neonatal infection requiring careful medical and neurosurgical intervention strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Gram-negative bacterial agents are the most common pathogens involved in brain abscesses of neonates. The use of wide spectrum antibiotics in combination with neurosurgical drainage of abscesses larger than 2.5 cm is the mainstay of treatment. Colistin is a polymyxin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible gram-negative bacteria but with a limited penetration in blood brain barrier. However, there is limited data on using intraventricular Colistin in neonatal intracranial infections. A 12-day-old male neonate with multiple brain abscesses in frontal and parietal lobes is presented. The abscesses were successfully managed with a combination of intravenous antimicrobial agents, intraventricular Colistin and concurrent administration of Interferon-ɣ. Subsequently, he developed ventriculomegaly which was successfully managed by endoscopic third ventriculostomy. He had an acceptable neurologic outcome. Due to reduced penetration of colistin in blood brain barrier, use of intraventricular Colistin in combination with its intravenous form can be beneficial in management of neonatal brain abscesses. Concurrent administration of Interferon-ɣ may improve the treatment process and outcome given that reduced secretion of this agent by neonatal T lymphocytes may contribute to a partial immunodeficiency state at this period of life.