title: Ventriculitis of the central nervous system.
abstract: An infection of the ventricular system of the brain is referred to as ventriculitis. The signs and symptoms of ventriculitis include the triad of altered mental status, fever, and headache, as seen in the patient with meningitis. Identifying the organism responsible is important in determining the cause and in planning a treatment strategy. Nurses have a pivotal role in the early identification and management of the patient with ventriculitis.
authors: Neuroscience Intensive Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02474, USA. mguanci@partners.org
authors: Mary McKenna
authors: MM
authors: Guanci
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058565:Cerebral Ventriculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000451:nursing; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D064648:Critical Care Nursing; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Cerebral spinal fluid; External ventricular drain; Intraventricular catheter; Shunt