title: Clinical and economic results of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the clinical and economic outcomes of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections for the first time between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2011 were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, and economic data were analyzed retrospectively. A cost coefficient (total cost/follow-up period) and hospitalization coefficient (duration of hospitalization/follow-up period) were calculated for each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 132 shunt infections (mean follow-up, 734 ± 367 days) were evaluated in 51 patients (mean age, 16.6 ± 9.22 months; median age, 3 months; range, 1-88 months; 28 females, 21 males). In 23 patients (45%), shunt infections were seen in the first 2 months following shunt placement. Seven patients died during the follow-up. There was a negative correlation between the age at diagnosis and the hospitalization duration (p = 0.005, r = -0.381). The average cost of hospitalization per patient was 6397 ± 4338 TL. There was a negative correlation between the cost index and the age at diagnosis (p = 0.04, r = -0.292).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections have significant medical and economic impacts. Younger the diagnosis of patients, the hospitalization duration and treatment cost were higher.
authors: Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Kanik
authors: Seda
authors: S
authors: Sirin
authors: Engin
authors: E
authors: Kose
authors: Kayı
authors: K
authors: Eliacik
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Anil
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Helvaci
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000009:adverse effects*