Problem/significance: Extended hospitalization secondary to external ventricular drain (EVD)-related meningitis may lead to additional treatments and readmissions. In May 2003, an antibiotic-coated EVD was introduced as a quality improvement project. From May 2002 to May 2004, 37 patients with EVDs were examined.

Hypothesis/objectives: There will be no difference in the number of meningitis infections with the antibiotic catheter.

Design/methods: A retrospective study looking at patients 1 year before and after catheter introduction. Using a database, the number of meningitis cases on the basis of catheter type will be estimated.

Settings: The setting was a pediatric critical care unit in Indianapolis.

Participants: Thirty seven patients look part in this study. Human subject protection was ensured through password-locked computers.

Interventions: The antibiotic catheter introduced in May 2003 was the intervention. Data were retrospectively collected.

Study results/outcomes: Results showed that 2/14 (14.3%) were infected with the standard catheter and 3/23 (13.0%) were infected with the antibiotic-coated catheter.

Conclusions/implications for practice: Despite the limitations of the small sample size, this study can be the basis for a pilot or quality improvement study and can be recommended for further research in the future with larger samples. Cost and patient-day reduction may be possible with the use of antibiotic-coated catheters.