The Effects Of Corticosteroid Use On Prognosis Of Patients With Nosocomial Meningitis In Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

Objective: Invasive procedures such as craniotomies, external ventricular drainage catheters, and penetrating head traumas increase the risk of nosocomial meningitis in neurosurgical intensive care unit patients. While some studies suggest that corticosteroids increase this risk, others argue no such effect present. The aim of this retrospective descriptive study was to reveal the effect of corticosteroid use in patients with nosocomial meningitis in the neurosurgical intensive care unit for five years on mortality, nosocomial infection, the number of surgical interventions and the duration of stay in intensive care unit.Materials and Methods: In this study, 13 cases that developed nosocomial meningitis from 2228 patients in the neurosurgical intensive care unit during a 5-year period were retrospectively analyzed. The effects of corticosteroid use on mortality, nosocomial infections, number of surgical interventions and length of stay in intensive care unit were investigated in patients with nosocomial meningitis.Results: The use of corticosteroid in patients with nosocomial meningitis had no effect on mortality, nosocomial infection risk, number of surgical interventions and length of stay in intensive care unit (p>0.05).Conclusion: Corticosteroid use of neurosurgical intensive care unit patients with nosocomial meningitis does not affect mortality, nosocomial infection risk, number of surgical interventions and length of stay in intensive care unit.