Work

Antibiotic susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid compared with Mueller-Hinton broth and artificial cerebrospinal fluid

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria has become an increasing problem in the treatment of critically ill patients, particularly in central nervous system infections. In clinical practice, MICs and minimal bactericidal concentrations are usually determined in standard test media and not in the respective body fluids. METHODS: . RESULTS: Cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and ciprofloxacin inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, cefotaxime, ceftazidime and amikacin inhibited the growth of Morganella morganii, and amikacin inhibited the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii in the nutrient-deficient CSF medium at lower concentrations than the MICs determined in MHB. The differences in MIC between MHB and artificial cerebrospinal fluid were less pronounced than between MHB and human CSF. CONCLUSIONS: In central nervous system infections, when antimicrobial susceptibility testing in standard media does not result in adequate therapeutic options, we suggest testing the antimicrobial susceptibility of the causative bacterium in human CSF.

Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2026.107730

Authors: Katrin Biesner, Marija Djukic, Utz Reichard, Roland Nau, Jana Seele

Institutions: Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Göttingen-Weende, University of Göttingen

Language: English

Topic: Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing

Subfield: Clinical Biochemistry

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,280