title: Factors involved in the antibiotic treatment of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections.
abstract: Fourty-four patients whose staphylococcal shunt infections were treated with antibiotics alone are reviewed retrospectively. Successful eradication of infection was achieved in 4 out of 7 patients who received intrathecal gentamicin and oral cotrimoxazole for ventriculoatrial shunt infections due to Staphylococcus albus, and in two of four patients with ventriculo-peritoneal shunt infections due to this organism who received cotrimoxazole alone, though one of these later required surgery for cystic blockage. No successes were recorded with other drugs, notably cloxacillin, and no infections due to Staphylococcus aureus were eradicated. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed with a view to developing guidelines for a prospective trial.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003023:Cloxacillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014295:Trimethoprim / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; D010406:Penicillins; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; D014295:Trimethoprim; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole; D003023:Cloxacillin