Michaela Danassis
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Michaela Danassis has a total of 7 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Hans-Jörg Epple
Antibiotic Stewardship, Charité–University Medicine Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
1 shared publication - Inna Friesen
National and Supranational Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Research Center Borstel, Borstel, Germany
1 shared publication - Nils Hecht
Department of Neurosurgery, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
1 shared publication - Nilufar Akbari
Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
1 shared publication - Sascha Treskatsch
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
1 shared publication - Sonja Hansen
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 23 May 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Critical Care
- Vol. 6 (1)
Impact of an interdisciplinary standard operating procedure on external ventricular drainage-associated ventriculitis and antibiotic use in intensive care unit patients: a retrospective pre–post study
Background: External ventricular drainage (EVD)-associated ventriculitis is a serious complication in neurocritical care. Diagnostic uncertainty and heterogeneous infection prevention and control (IPC) practices may contribute to variable ventriculitis rates and potentially avoidable antibiotic exposure. We evaluated the impact of implementing an interdisciplinary standard operating procedure (SOP) on ventriculitis incidence and antimicrobial stewardship (ABS)-related outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre pre–post study in one intensive care unit (ICU) at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin (2019–2023). Adult patients with EVDs were assigned to a pre-SOP cohort (Group 1) or a post-SOP cohort (Group 2). The SOP comprised standardized IPC protocols, an algorithm-based diagnostic workup and evidence-based anti-infective strategies. The primary endpoint was study-defined EVD-associated ventriculitis, adjudicated retrospectively using uniform criteria. Secondary endpoints included empirical antibiotic initiation, duration of therapy, antibiotic consumption, ICU length of stay (LOS), mortality, and SOP adherence. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters and clinical signs were summarized descriptively. Results: A total of 166 patients were included (pre-SOP, Group 1: n = 50; post-SOP, Group 2: n = 116). The study-defined ventriculitis rate decreased from 22% [95% CI 0.13–0.35] to 9.5% [95% CI 0.05–0.16] with an unadjusted OR 0.37 [95% CI 0.13–1.04]; p = 0.053, attenuated with an adjusted OR of 0.50 [95% CI 0.19–1.35]; p = 0.169. Incidence density declined from 21.1 to 12.0 per 1000 EVD days. Empirical antibiotic use fell from 28.0% [95% CI 17.5–41.7] to 12.9% [95% CI 8.0–20.2], corresponding to an unadjusted OR of 0.38 [95% CI 0.17–0.87] and median therapy duration decreased from 16 [95% CI 13.5–18.5] to 10 days [95% CI 6.5–13.5]. ICU LOS shortened by 4 days, while ICU mortality remained unchanged (26% vs. 27%). Conclusion: An interdisciplinary SOP was associated with reduced empirical antibiotic exposure and shorter treatment duration without affecting ICU mortality. The SOP appeared to improve diagnostic consistency and standardization of the workup rather than diagnostic test performance. Trial registration: The study is registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS ID: 00036075) in February 2025.
- 23 May 2026
- Published by Springer Nature in Journal of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Critical Care
- Vol. 6 (1)
Open AccessImpact of an interdisciplinary standard operating procedure on external ventricular drainage-associated ventriculitis and antibiotic use in intensive care unit patients: a retrospective pre–post study
Background: External ventricular drainage (EVD)-associated ventriculitis is a serious complication in neurocritical care. Diagnostic uncertainty and heterogeneous infection prevention and control (IPC) practices may contribute to variable ventriculitis rates and potentially avoidable antibiotic exposure. We evaluated the impact of implementing an interdisciplinary standard operating procedure (SOP) on ventriculitis incidence and antimicrobial stewardship (ABS)-related outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective single-centre pre–post study in one intensive care unit (ICU) at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin (2019–2023). Adult patients with EVDs were assigned to a pre-SOP cohort (Group 1) or a post-SOP cohort (Group 2). The SOP comprised standardized IPC protocols, an algorithm-based diagnostic workup and evidence-based anti-infective strategies. The primary endpoint was study-defined EVD-associated ventriculitis, adjudicated retrospectively using uniform criteria. Secondary endpoints included empirical antibiotic initiation, duration of therapy, antibiotic consumption, ICU length of stay (LOS), mortality, and SOP adherence. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters and clinical signs were summarized descriptively. Results: A total of 166 patients were included (pre-SOP, Group 1: n = 50; post-SOP, Group 2: n = 116). The study-defined ventriculitis rate decreased from 22% [95% CI 0.13–0.35] to 9.5% [95% CI 0.05–0.16] with an unadjusted OR 0.37 [95% CI 0.13–1.04]; p = 0.053, attenuated with an adjusted OR of 0.50 [95% CI 0.19–1.35]; p = 0.169. Incidence density declined from 21.1 to 12.0 per 1000 EVD days. Empirical antibiotic use fell from 28.0% [95% CI 17.5–41.7] to 12.9% [95% CI 8.0–20.2], corresponding to an unadjusted OR of 0.38 [95% CI 0.17–0.87] and median therapy duration decreased from 16 [95% CI 13.5–18.5] to 10 days [95% CI 6.5–13.5]. ICU LOS shortened by 4 days, while ICU mortality remained unchanged (26% vs. 27%). Conclusion: An interdisciplinary SOP was associated with reduced empirical antibiotic exposure and shorter treatment duration without affecting ICU mortality. The SOP appeared to improve diagnostic consistency and standardization of the workup rather than diagnostic test performance. Trial registration: The study is registered in the German Clinical Trial Register (DRKS ID: 00036075) in February 2025.