Feasibility of Neurapheresis™ Therapy for Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacterial Meningitis

October 4, 2017 – Duke University Medical Center/Minnetronix Neuro

Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and Klebsiella are three multidrug resistant (MDR) gram-negative pathogens that pose a threat to human health. Patients in hospitals or nursing homes, and with devices such as intravenous catheters or ventilators are at increased risk of Gram-negative bacterial meningitis (GBM) from these bacteria. GBM manifests when these bacteria invade the central nervous system. Increasingly antibiotic resistant bacteria strains cause high mortality associated with MDR GBM. This poster demonstrates the feasibility of Neurapheresis™ Therapy for MDR GBM, and characterizes system parameters for bacterial, endotoxin, and cytokine clearance.

Christi G. Ballard, BS, Bilal Ashraf, BS, Tiffany Ejikeme, BS, Brenda Hansen, MS, Lefko Charalambous, BS, Promila Pagadala, PhD, Batu K. Sharma-Kuinkel, PhD, Charles Giamberardino, Blake Hedstrom, MS, Laura Zitella Verbick, PhD, Aaron McCabe, PhD, Shivanand P. Lad MD, PhD, Vance G. Fowler Jr., MD, MHS and John R. Perfect, MD