THURSDAY, Feb. 9 (HealthDay News) -- Children with a cochlear implant are at increased risk of bacterial meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae more than 24 months after surgery if they received a specific type of implant that has a positioner, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The only cochlear implants with a positioner were manufactured by Advanced Bionics Corporation. None have been implanted since July 2002.
A study in the February issue of Pediatrics found that six children, all of whom had cochlear implants with a positioner, developed meningitis more than 24 months after implantation. The study was a two-year follow-up of a cohort of children identified in an earlier CDC/FDA study.
"These findings underscore the importance of continued monitoring and prompt treatment of bacterial infections in children with cochlear implants beyond two years post-implantation, particularly among children whose implants have a positioner," according to the FDA.
Because it's not known whether the risk of meningitis might be reduced if an implant with a positioner is removed or replaced by another model, there is insufficient evidence to recommend removal of the devices, the federal agency says. "Any potential benefits of explantation surgery must be weighed against the risks for operative complications, including perioperative meningitis," according to the FDA.
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