Antibiotic Therapy of an Infant With a Brevibacterium casei Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infection

We describe a newborn infant with hydrocephalus and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection caused by Brevibacterium casei. Essential for correct diagnosis was rapid species identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight, after initial report of coryneform bacteria. The patient responded well to vancomycin and rifampicin for 15 days. The shunt was not removed. Repeated cerebrospinal fluid cultures up to 4 months after therapy remained negative.

Automated summary

A newborn infant with hydrocephalus and ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection caused by Brevibacterium casei was successfully treated with vancomycin and rifampicin for 15 days, without shunt removal, as confirmed by negative cerebrospinal fluid cultures up to 4 months after therapy.