Phenotype, molecular characterisation and risk factors for postoperative meningitis caused by ESBL-producing-Enterobacteriaceae: a six years multi-Centre comparative cohort study.

Background: To determine the phenotype, molecular characterisation and risk factors of postoperative meningitis induced by Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (EPE) in China.

Methods: We performed a multi-centre comparative cohort study of postoperative meningitis patients infected with Enterobacteriaceae in 4 neurosurgical centres in China from January 2014 to December 2019. Phenotype and molecular characteristics of the isolates were reviewed and tested, and independent risk factors of the EPE meningitis were evaluated by binary logistic regression.

Results: In total, 220 Enterobacteriaceae include 78 EPE were available in this study. 85.6% (67/78) ESBL-related genes were tested, and bla (14.9%) and bla + bla + bla (20.9%) were found to be the most frequent mono and combined ESBL-related genes harboured by Enterobacteriaceae. On binary logistic analysis, craniotomy (OR. 2.583, 95% C.I. 1.274-5.235, P = 0.008) and malignancy (OR. 2.406, 95% C.I. 1.299-4.456, P = 0.005) were the associated independent risk factors to meningitis induced by EPE.

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest series focusing on risk factors of EPE meningitis which has been conducted in China. Craniotomy and malignancy were independent risk factors for EPE meningitis. The risk factors identified may be further utilized in clinical practice and research to avoid and reduce the mortality in future.