Techniques to Reduce the Rate of Infection in Surgeries for Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting in Adults

Abstract

ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement is associated with high rates of infection. Multiple standardized protocols, particularly in pediatric populations, have been proposed to mitigate this infection rate. We sought to determine the effectiveness of a standardized shunt infection protocol in a large adult population. MethodsA retrospective cohort study of adults presenting for primary CSF shunt placement from 2012-2022. The primary outcome of interest was shunt infection. The primary exposure of interest was implementation of the shunt protocol (began October 2015). Secondary exposures of interest included use and type of perioperative antibiotics and total OR time. ResultsIn total, 820 patients were included, 140 before protocol implementation and 680 after protocol implementation. The overall number of infections over the study period was 15 (1.8% infection rate), with 8 infections pre-protocol (5.7%) and 7 infections during the protocol period (1.0%). The infection protocol was associated with a decreased infection rate (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.05-0.58, p=0.002). Total operating room time (OR 1.38 per 30-minute increase, 95% CI 1.05-1.81, p=0.021) was associated with increased infection rate. Patients who received antibiotics with primarily gram-positive coverage (cefazolin or equivalent) did not have significantly different odds of shunt infection as patients who received broad-spectrum coverage (OR 2.10, 95% CI 0.56-7.88, p=0.274). ConclusionsThe implementation of an evidence-based perioperative shunt infection protocol is an effective method to decrease shunt infections. Broad-spectrum perioperative antibiotics may not have greater efficacy than gram-positive only coverage, but more research is required.