title: Risk factors for recurrent shunt infections in children.
abstract: Risk factors for recurrent shunt-related cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infections were analyzed. A total of 58 children were treated for initial shunt infections (ISI): all children were treated with antibiotics and CSF drainage, either by removal of the shunt system and insertion of an external ventricular drainage (EVD) catheter (44 children, 75.9%) or by externalization of the existing ventricular catheter (14 children, 24.1%). Recurrent shunt infections (RSI) were detected in 15 children: nine had been treated with shunt removal and insertion of a new EVD catheter and six had been treated with externalization of the existing ventricular catheter. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of RSI in children treated with externalization of the existing ventricular catheter. Thus, to reduce the risk of RSI, total shunt removal and insertion of a new EVD catheter is preferred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Halaskargazi Street, Istanbul 34100, Turkey. ademyilmaz70@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ahmet Murat
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Musluman
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dalgic
authors.forename: Tufan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cansever
authors.forename: Turker
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalkilic
authors.forename: Evren
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kundakci
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis