title: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections in children. A 6-year study.
abstract: In a study of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections conducted retrospectively between 1983 and 1987 and prospectively in 1988 39 infections from 372 shunt procedures (incidence 10.5%) were identified. The most common organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (18; 47%) followed by S. epidermidis (10; 26%). Forty-two per cent of staphylococci were methicillin-resistant. Gram-negative infections were associated with myelomeningoceles and Gram-positive infections with other forms of hydrocephalus (P = 0.048). Lymphocyte predominance was found more frequently than polymorphonuclear predominance in cerebrospinal fluid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Stellenbosch, Parowvallei, CP.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hartzenberg
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Donald
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Burger
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology