Valvular infections in patients with hydrocephalus: preventive aspects.
Shunt infections in children have become a serious problem. In order to solve this, we have been using antibiotic therapy with Rifampicin (Rifampin) for the last 2 years; the dosage is 20 mg/kg per day 1 h before surgery and then for 48 h after the surgical procedure. We have had experience with 203 children operated on between January 1987 and December 1988. The result was a significant decrease in the number of children with shunt infections. In 1980 we reported an incidence of 10%, while by 1988 the rate had gone down to 1%.
Viano
J C
JC
Department of Neurosurgery, Municipal Infantile Hospital, Cordoba, Argentina.
Tregnaghi
M
M
Casagnas
M
M
Suárez
J C
JC
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011292:Premedication; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000295:instrumentation*
D012293:Rifampin