Efficacy of ampicillin/sulbactam combination in experimental shunt infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis. A light and scanning electron microscope study.

: In this study, the efficacy of ampicillin/sulbactam combination in reactions of periventricular tissue of the lateral ventricle induced by the presence of infected (Staphylococcus epidermidis) silicone rubber shunt tubing was examined by using light and scanning electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that reactive changes to implants had occurred in periventricular tissue in the control group. In infected shunt tubing without given prophylactic antibiotic group, generalized meningitis and ventriculitis, loss of integrity of ependymal cells, numerous inflammatory cells, bacterial colonies, exuda and even pus were seen. It was also shown that rarely inflammatory reactions, minimal disintegration of ependymal cells, no bacterial colonies, and phagocytes were present in the group which was given prophylactic ampicillin/sulbactam combination per and postoperatively. We think that ampicillin/sulbactam combination is very effective in prevention and treatment of shunt infections.