Ten-year retrospective study on ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections from a university teaching hospital, South India

BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertions are one of the important neurosurgical procedures done to enhance the neurological functions and improve the survival of patients with hydrocephalus. However, shunt infections are associated with an increased risk of morbidity and the mortality of 30%–40%. The study objective was to evaluate the clinical features, aetiology, resistance pattern and outcome of patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections over a 10-year period (2001–2010) amongst the microbiologically-proven cases. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective chart review was carried out to evaluate the age, sex and aetiology of hydrocephalus, biochemical parameters, clinical features and outcome of the culture-positive cases. RESULTS: Out of the 184 post-procedure and initial ( CONCLUSION: CONS continues to be a challenge to neurosurgeons in the treatment of shunt infections. Adequate prophylactic antibiotics based on the local susceptibility pattern should be administered besides strengthening the infection control protocols of the hospital. Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections may well extend to shunt infections at the locations where insertions are carried out.