Empiric treatment of healthcare-associated central nervous system infections in Denmark: do we need carbapenems?

Background: Carbapenems are widely used for empiric treatment of healthcare-associated central nervous system (CNS) infections. We investigated the feasibility of a carbapenem-sparing strategy, utilising a third-generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefotaxime) (combined with vancomycin) for the empirical treatment of healthcare-associated CNS infections in Eastern Denmark.

Methods: The departments of neurosurgery and neuro-intensive care at Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet.