Multiple rare organisms causing ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and brain abscess

Abstract

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS) are inserted to treat issues with CSF flow dynamics, such as obstructions causing CSF build up which raises the intracranial pressure. A major complication of this procedure is VPS infections. Vast majority of VPS infections are monomicrobial and may occur in the first two years of insertion due to contiguous or hematogenous spread. Here, we report a rare case of polymicrobial VPS infection with 5 pathogens. One of these organisms (Citrobacter werkmanii) has been reported as a cause of meningitis for the first time in this report. The other organism (Enterococcus casseliflavus) has been reported as a cause only one other time. Hence, we recommend considering these newly emerging organisms when dealing with meningitis.