Biomaterial Database

Long-term analysis of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections. A 25-year experience. 1979

R George, and L Leibrock, and M Epstein

The authors have retrospectively analyzed 840 cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures over a 25-year period to determine the relationships between infection rates and several possible influences on infection. Two-thirds of all shunt infections occurred within 1 month of surgery. The very young and very old had higher infection rates. Infections became less prevalent over the period of the study, and mortality from infection decreased from 35% to 6%. Successive shunts (revisions) were found to have progressively higher infection rates. Ventriculoatrial and ventriculoperitoneal silicone plastic shunts had similar infection rates (11.4% and 12.0%). The uncontrolled use of prophylactic antibiotics had no effect on shunt infections. Staphylococcus epidermidis became gradually more prevalent over the period of the study, and eventually caused one-half of all infections. Where infection occurred in the presence of prophylaxis, the infectious organism was usually sensitive to the antibiotic being used. The surgeon was found to be the largest single factor in the incidence of shunt infections. A 25-fold variance in infection rates among surgeons could be related to individual experience and technique.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D008581	Meningitis	Inflammation of the coverings of the brain and/or spinal cord, which consist of the PIA MATER; ARACHNOID; and DURA MATER. Infections (viral, bacterial, and fungal) are the most common causes of this condition, but subarachnoid hemorrhage (HEMORRHAGES, SUBARACHNOID), chemical irritation (chemical MENINGITIS), granulomatous conditions, neoplastic conditions (CARCINOMATOUS MENINGITIS), and other inflammatory conditions may produce this syndrome. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1994, Ch24, p6)	Pachymeningitis,Meningitides,Pachymeningitides
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010538	Peritonitis	INFLAMMATION of the PERITONEUM lining the ABDOMINAL CAVITY as the result of infectious, autoimmune, or chemical processes. Primary peritonitis is due to infection of the PERITONEAL CAVITY via hematogenous or lymphatic spread and without intra-abdominal source. Secondary peritonitis arises from the ABDOMINAL CAVITY itself through RUPTURE or ABSCESS of intra-abdominal organs.	Primary Peritonitis,Secondary Peritonitis,Peritonitis, Primary,Peritonitis, Secondary
D011183	Postoperative Complications	Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery.	Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D002557	Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts	Tubes inserted to create communication between a cerebral ventricle and the internal jugular vein. Their emplacement permits draining of cerebrospinal fluid for relief of hydrocephalus or other condition leading to fluid accumulation in the ventricles.	Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt,Shunt, Cerebrospinal Fluid,Shunts, Cerebrospinal Fluid
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002983	Clinical Competence	The capability to perform acceptably those duties directly related to patient care.	Clinical Skills,Competence, Clinical,Clinical Competency,Clinical Skill,Competency, Clinical,Skill, Clinical,Skills, Clinical,Clinical Competencies,Competencies, Clinical
D004697	Endocarditis, Bacterial	Inflammation of the ENDOCARDIUM caused by BACTERIA that entered the bloodstream. The strains of bacteria vary with predisposing factors, such as CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS; HEART VALVE DISEASES; HEART VALVE PROSTHESIS IMPLANTATION; or intravenous drug use.	Bacterial Endocarditides,Bacterial Endocarditis,Endocarditides, Bacterial