Abstract: Objective To determine the distribution and antibiotic resistance of bacteria isolated from cerebrospinal fluid so as to provide evidence for clinical selection of antibiotics. Methods The bacterial identification and antibiotic resistance tests were performed for cerebrospinal fluid culture-positive specimens.Results 1) Comparison of bacteria constituent ratio: the ratio of Gram-positives was higher in Neurosurgery Department(67.2%) than Neurology Department(56.1%). The ratio of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Gram-negatives was higher in Neurology Department. The ratio of Acinetobacter baumanii was higher in Neurosurgery Department. 2) Bacterial susceptibility: The Gram-positives were sensitive to vancomycin and Linezolid, while Gram-negatives were sensitive to imipenem and amikacin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from Neurosurgery Department, had higher antimicrobial susceptibility to ciprofloxacin than those from Neurology Department. Staphylococcus epidermidis in Neurosurgery Department were more sensitive to Rifampicin. Conclusion Central nervous system infection was basically nosocomial infection and the prevailing pathogens were Gram-positives. The observation of bacterial distribution and antibiotic resistance will provide valuable information for prophylactic and empirical antibiotic use in intracranial infection.

Key words: cerebrospinal fluid, bacterial resistance, intracranial infection