Surgical Site Infections in Hydrocephalus Surgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery

Abstract

Hydrocephalus surgery is one of the most frequently performed procedures in pediatric neurosurgery. The incidence of surgical site infections during this surgery is high. This complication has not improved with the evolution of neurosurgical procedures. This may be due to immature immune system and skin barrier function of children compared to adults and the fact that hydrocephalus surgery involves placement of an alien surgical device in the body. To overcome this issue, it is important to follow procedures that have been validated as beneficial for the prevention of infection in literature. Therefore, in this article, we present our current understanding of infectious complications of hydrocephalus surgery, including shunt device surgery in adults and non-hydrocephalus pediatric neurosurgery, and provide recommendations for minimizing infectious complications and strategies to prevent infections in these surgeries.