Challenges in the nursing care of intracranial carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli infection after severe traumatic brain injury: a case report

Introduction

Intracranial infection is a common complication after traumatic brain injury (TBI) usually aggravates the patient’s condition with the primary disease and increases mortality. Most patients died of intracranial hypertension or multiple organ failure (1). Treatment should focus on preventing secondary injury by avoiding hypotension and hypoxia and maintaining appropriate cerebral perfusion pressure. In the past 20 years, carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli (CRE) has become a global public health problem with widespread rapid increase. Resulting in high morbidity, disability, and mortality, CRE brings considerable challenges to clinical treatment and severe burdens to society (2,3). It is much easier for the elderly, immunocompromised and critically ill patients to infect CRE. The mortality rate is between 40% and 50% for severe patients with CRE bloodstream infections (4). In order to effectively decrease case-fatality rates among patients with the infections owing to CRE infection, combination antibiotic schemes, including colistin (or amikacin) and/or tigecycline in combination with an anti-pseudomonal carbapenem agent, remain the mainstay for treating clinical CRE infections. In September 2019, our department of neurosurgery treated a patient infected by intracranial CRE after severe TBI successfully. At present, few cases of intracranial infection caused by CRE have been reported. The successful treatment need intensive collaboration of doctors and nurses.

We present the following case in accordance with the CARE reporting checklist (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm-20-1264).

Case presentation

A 67-year-old male patient was admitted to our neurosurgery department for intracranial carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli infection confirmed by culture after craniotomy on September 13, 2019. Fourteen days ago, the patient underwent craniotomy and bone flap decompression due to a right intracerebral hemorrhage after a traffic accident. Physical examination revealed that the Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of the patient was E4 + T + M5. The wound did not heal well, with pus flowing out, which was cultured. Blood workup showed that the white blood count was 14.5×10⁹ cell/L, and a highly sensitive C-reactive protein level was 118.29 mg/L. Lumbar cistern drainage was performed at once at admission. The color of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was yellow and turbid, and CSF examination revealed. The laboratory results showed there were 5,700/UL nucleated cells, pan type test (+ + +). The patient was started on polymyxin B, tigecycline, meropenem triple antibiotics, with intrathecal injection of polymyxin B. After 5 days of continuous treatment, intravenous antibiotics were substituted with amikacin, tigecycline and meropenem according to the results of CSF culture On September 28, the intracranial infection was effectively controlled. The CSF workup showed a nucleated cell of 60/UL, pan test (−), no pathogenic bacteria in CSF culture. The patient’s consciousness improved, with GCS of E4 + T + M6. Then, the patient was off respiratory support 5 days after admission. Under the gradual implementation of rehabilitation exercise, the muscle strength of both legs of the patient gradually improved. The muscle strength of the left leg was level III, and the right leg was level II. The patient was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital on October 7.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee(s) and with the Helsinki Declaration (as revised in 2013).

Nursing

Prevention of intracranial hypertension

The intracranial infection was confirmed in the early stage; added secondary intracranial hypertension will directly affect the prognosis. Therefore, the responsible nurse is required to increase the frequency of ward patrol, carefully observe the patient’s consciousness and pupil changes, monitor vital signs and improve relevant records, communicate with the competent doctor in time, use drugs, or physical cooling to control high fever as soon as possible. In terms of drug lowering intracranial pressure, according to the doctor’s order frequency, we correctly arrange the time and speed of mannitol infusion, observe the changes of urine volume, blood pressure, and electrolyte levels, to promptly handle and maintain the internal environment, to ensure adequate perfusion of brain tissue, and prevent the complication of intracranial hypertension or cerebral hernia.

Rational use of antibiotics

Strict management of antibiotics treatment

Antimicrobial treatment of extensively resistant gram-negative bacterial infections includes polymyxin, aminoglycosides, tigecycline, and fosfomycin. The efficacy of carbapenem combined with polymyxin in the treatment of CRE infection is better than a single drug or other combined programs (5). Some studies have shown that tigecycline has a high sensitivity of 97.4% in the treatment of CRE infection in adults (6-8). Tigecycline combined with polymyxin can effectively reduce the 30 days mortality of CRE infection patients. CSF culture-confirmed Escherichia coli infection in our case. After admission, he was started on tigecycline 50 mg, polymyxin B 750,000 UI, meropenem 2.0 g, and polymyxin B 750,000 UI. According to the drug sensitivity results, the treatment plan was substituted with tigecycline 100 mg intravenous drip for 12 h, amikacin 600 mg intravenous drip QD, and amikacin 30 mg intrathecal injection. Amikacin 400 mg IV drip/bid was used for 3 days, and the intrathecal dose of amikacin was adjusted to 50 mg per day for 7 days. A responsible nurse needs to have a complete understanding of the treatment purpose and medication mode. During treatment, antibiotics are adjusted frequently and dynamically, so the nurse should strictly follow the drugs, guarantee the concentration of the drugs, reasonably distribute the drugs to improve the antibacterial effect. Simultaneously, we should pay attention to the CSF drainage, monitor the change of body temperature, conduct physical cooling and drug cooling in time according to the doctor’s order, and observe the results of CSF and sputum culture. The body temperature returned to normal 5 days after admission, and the appearance of CSF was clear, meaning it had no abnormalities 10 days later in our case. No pathogenic bacteria were detected in the succeeding four CSF cultures, which proved that the antibacterial treatment was effective

Nursing of intrathecal injection

• Position management (9) To support a specific effective concentration in CSF circulation, the intrathecal injection was performed. The patient was placed in the supine position, a soft pillow placed on the back of their waist, and kept in this position for 1.5 hours during the injection.
• Observation on the state of illness during injection With the cooperation of medical care and strict aseptic operation, a 5 mL solution was injected by the pump and maintained for 30min. During the injection, ECG monitoring was given, vital signs were monitored, consciousness, pupil, and systemic reaction were observed.
• Observation on the state of illness during tube clamping period After injection, the patient took a flat position. The soft pillow on the back was removed. The pupil, consciousness, and vital signs were observed every 15 minutes during the clamping period.
• Nursing after recovery of drainage The patient’s head elevation of the bed was set to a position of 15° and 45° lying on the side. Nurses assisted the doctor to adjust the position of the drainage tube of the lumbar cistern, and properly fixed it, check the drainage tube every 4 hours to ensure the sealing and patency of the drainage, and observe the color, character, and quantity of the drainage fluid. During drainage, drainage flow was controlled to (200–300) mL/d, according to the doctor’s instructions to avoid excessive drainage and secondary intracranial hypotension.
• Drug treatment after removing the drainage tube of the lumbar cistern. After the drainage tube of the lumbar cistern was removed, a lumbar puncture was conducted on 2/10, 4/10 and 7/10 days, respectively. CSF was kept for examination, and amikacin was injected intrathecally at a dose of 50 mg/time.

Observation of the side effects of drugs

For the nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity of polymyxin, the patient presented obvious neurotoxic reactions, including the muscle strength of both lower limbs decreasing, the muscle strength of grade I in the left lower limb, grade 0 in the right lower limb, after intrathecal injection. Therefore, polymyxin B was substituted with amikacin. Additionally, the patient received passive movement and underwent exercise treatment 2 times/day on the bed. The muscle strength of both legs gradually improved, with grade III in the left leg and grade II in the right leg, without muscle atrophy during admission.

Artificial airway management

Position management

Some studies have shown that (9) bed head elevation of 15–30, sputum suction 45° lateral position is not only beneficial for clearing airway secretion but also beneficial for improving brain oxygen metabolism and cerebrovascular permeability, relieving brain edema and reducing intracranial pressure for patients with a tracheotomy. To avoid excessive drainage of CSF during lumbar cistern drainage, the patient took a position of 15° elevation of the bed head and 45° lying on his side. The raised position of the bed head also helps prevent aspiration during enteral nutrition.

Periodically evaluate the artificial airway

Nurses should observe whether the artificial airway is unobstructed, the catheter is fixed properly, the pressure of the airbag is suitable, and the patient has asthma, cyanosis of the mouth and lip. Do not over pull the tracheotomy tube in the process of turning over and percussing the back, oral care, and sputum suction to prevent the displacement. The airbag pressure gauge is used to measure the airbag pressure to ensure safety and accuracy. The airbag pressure is monitored every 4 hours and supported at 25–30 cmH₂O (10), to seal the air passage and prevent aspiration effectively.

Airway humidification and warming

The artificial airway destroys the normal physiological respiratory tract, which affects the integrity of the airway mucosa (11), increasing the risk of respiratory inflammation (12,13). Effective airway humidification can prevent respiratory infection. After admission, the patient underwent a tracheotomy and daily respiratory exercise. After 5 days, the patient was successfully weaned. No matter in using a ventilator and off-line, we always use HME to humidify and warm to prevent the formation of a sputum scab and avoid complications, including high airway response. This measure significantly reduces the amount of sputum secretion and the number of sputum suction. During the humidification heat exchanger period, the nurse in charge visited the ward every two hours to observe the humidification temperature and water level scale. These procedures were done to prevent the humidification effect from being affected by the drying of distilled water.

Management over airbags

The residue above the airbag is an important source of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The patient uses the washable air cutting sleeve and uses the low negative pressure suction under the glottis to remove the retention on the airbag every Q₂ hours. We should note the 24 suction volume on the nursing record sheet and implement the shift handover system. When it is found the volume is less on a certain day, find out the reasons, and deal with them in time. For example, we check the position of the gas cutting sleeve and ask the performer whether to conduct suction as required.

Aspirate sputum as needed

An inspection tour is performed every hour. When obvious phlegm sound is heard in the respiratory tract or the blood oxygen saturation suddenly decreases, the patient should receive sputum aspiration at once. When there is no special situation, sputum suction should be conducted as needed. Before sputum suction, percussion and tremor should be conducted in the lungs. Chest physical treatment should be conducted to ensure the drainage and suction effect of sputum. Sputum aspiration should follow the aseptic operation system.

Oral care

High quality of oral care can prevent VAP (14). For this patient, we check the oral mucosa every shift. When the pressure of the airbag is checked to be safe with the salivary absorbing the toothbrush, rinse the mouth with chlorhexidine tinidazole gargle every 6 hours. During the process of rinsing, the movement is gentle to prevent mucosal bleeding. The contents of each oral care record, including patients’ gums, teeth, oral mucosa, are reflected in the nursing record sheet to ensure that each shift can understand the current oral situation of the patient.

Summary

CRE infection brings a series of social problems, including clinical treatment failure, prolonged hospitalization, high medical cost, and increasing social burden (15). At present, few cases of intracranial infection caused by CRE have been reported. The successful treatment of this case includes timely and correct diagnosis and treatment, targeted nursing practice, prompt lumbar cistern CSF drainage to eliminate intracranial inflammatory substances, and accelerate CSF circulation (16). The puncturing process and clinical nursing process follow the sterile principle, avoiding secondary infection. The patient was satisfied with our work. In conclusion, full awareness of the clinical problems, cooperation in the medical team, prompt and effective treatment are key to a satisfactory prognosis, even in the disease of high mortality.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the CARE reporting checklist. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm-20-1264

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm-20-1264). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. Written informed 24 the patient. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee(s) and with the Helsinki Declaration (as revised in 2013).

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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(English Language Editor: J. Chapnick)