Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection rates using a standard surgical technique, including topical and intraventricular vancomycin: the Children's Hospital Oakland experience

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

OBJECTIVE

Cerebrospinal fluid 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.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of adults presenting for primary cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement from 2012 to 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 operating room time.

RESULTS

In 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 preprotocol (5.7%) and 7 infections during the protocol period (1.0%). The infection protocol was associated with a decreased infection rate (odds rato [OR] 0.18, 95% confidence interval [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).

CONCLUSIONS

The 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.

Epidemiology, clinical profile, and outcomes of CSF-diversion catheter-related infections - Prospective cohort study results from a single quaternary neurosurgery referral centre

BACKGROUND

Device-associated CNS infections is a major subgroup of healthcare associated CNS infections. Healthcare-associated ventriculitis or meningitis differs considerably from community-acquired meningitis in its epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and management.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the infection rates, the associated risk factors, and outcomes of these life-threatening infections.

METHODS

This was a 2-year single center prospective cohort study. Patient's clinical data, laboratory parameters, treatment and their outcomes were collected using data collection tool, and device days were collected from the hospital information system (HIS). Patients were categorised using IDSA criteria as contamination or colonisation or infection. Cox regression model was used for multivariate analysis to estimate hazard risk.

RESULTS

A total of 578 CSF diversion catheters were inserted in 472 patients. The average rate for EVD and LD infection were 11.12 and 11.86 per 1000 device days respectively. The average infection rates for VP and LP shunts were 6% and 5.2% per procedure, respectively. The commonest etiological agent causing CSF diversion catheter-related infection (CDRI) was Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 14, 40%). The risk factors which were independently associated with increased infection risk by cox regression analysis were drain insertion ≥7 days [HR:11.73, p -0.03], posterior approach of EVD insertion (occipital) [HR:9.53, p - 0.01], pre-OP ASA score>3 [HR:8.28, p - 0.013] presence of EVD/LD leak [HR: 17.24, p < 0.0001], male gender [HR:2.05, p-0.05] and presence of associated peri-operative scalp infections [HR:3.531, p-0.005]. Shift to narrow spectrum surgical prophylactic antibiotic [Coefficient: -1.284, p-0.03] and reduction in CSF sampling frequency [Coefficient: -1.741, p-0.02] were found to be negatively associated with CDRI.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated drain insertion ≥7 days, posterior approach of EVD insertion, presence of EVD/LD leak, male gender and presence of associated peri-operative scalp skin and soft tissue infections were associated with increased risk of infection.

The Long-Term Patency of the Internal Jugular Vein and the Common Facial Vein as Entrance Sites for Venous Access in Ventriculoatrial Shunts: A Comparative Analysis from a Single-Center Study

OBJECTIVE

The ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt is a surgical intervention used to manage hydrocephalus, although it is less often utilized compared to the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Placement of the distal catheter typically involves the utilization of either the common facial vein (CFV) or the internal jugular vein (IJV), 2 frequently employed options for venous access. This study aims to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the long-term patency (2 years) of the distal end of the VA shunt of these 2 options.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of patients who received VA shunt surgeries with the employment of the CFV or IJV as access veins at Rajavithi Hospital in Thailand between January 2015 and December 2020. The analysis focused on long-term patency and potential complications.

RESULTS

The study comprised a total of 42 participants. Twenty-six (61.9%) individuals underwent ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt surgery via the CFV, while the other 16 (38.1%) underwent the same procedure using the IJV. Neither of the 2 groups required shunt revision due to distal catheter malfunction. Most cases exhibited no significant complications apart from a single instance of shunt system infection.

CONCLUSIONS

In VA shunt surgery, both the CFV and IJV can be used as venous access sites for the right atrium because there is no discernible difference between their complications or long-term patency. Anatomical considerations, patient-specific characteristics, and the surgeon's preference should all be considered when choosing the venous access location for the placement of a VA shunt.

A systematic review of the power of standardization in pediatric neurosurgery

In the current neurosurgical field, there is a constant emphasis on providing the best care with the most value. Such work requires the constant optimization of not only surgical but also perioperative services. Recent work has demonstrated the power of standardized techniques in limiting complication while promoting optimal outcomes. In this review article, protocols addressing operative and perioperative care for common pediatric neurosurgical procedures are discussed. These articles address how various institutions have optimized procedures through standardization. Our objective is to improve patient outcomes through the optimization of protocols.

Listeria meningitis associated with tonsillar herniation in an immunocompetent school-aged child

Listeria monocytogenes can cause severe illnesses such as gastroenteritis, sepsis and neurolisteriosis, especially in infants, the elderly and immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a previously healthy school-aged girl presenting with severe neurological deficits found to have Listeria meningoencephalitis. Her potential exposure to L. monocytogenes was consumption of contaminated cheese. She had some clinical improvement after initiation of tailored Listeria anti-microbial coverage with ampicillin and gentamicin; however, she developed hydrocephalus requiring external ventricular drain placement and tonsillar herniation requiring emergent posterior fossa decompression. The patient made significant improvements after neurosurgical intervention, and along with continued antibiotics and subsequent rehabilitation services, she improved to near full recovery within a year. The case highlights that neurolisteriosis can affect even immunocompetent children, and aggressive neurosurgical interventions should be considered in patients who develop severe complications such as hydrocephalus and tonsillar herniation to improve outcomes.

Neutropenia and Infection Prophylaxis in Childhood Cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pediatric oncology patients frequently experience episodes of prolonged neutropenia which puts them at high risk for infection with significant morbidity and mortality. Here, we review the data on infection prophylaxis with a focus on both pharmacologic and ancillary interventions. This review does not include patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patients with hematologic malignancies are at highest risk for infection. Bacterial and fungal prophylaxis decrease the risk of infection in certain high-risk groups. Ancillary measures such as ethanol locks, chlorhexidine gluconate baths, GCSF, IVIG, and mandatory hospitalization do not have enough data to support routine use. There is limited data on risk of infection and role of prophylaxis in patients receiving immunotherapy and patients with solid tumors. Patients with Down syndrome and adolescent and young adult patients may benefit from additional supportive care measures and protocol modifications. Consider utilizing bacterial and fungal prophylaxis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. More research is needed to evaluate other supportive care measures and the role of prophylaxis in patients receiving immunotherapy.

Effect of topical and intraventricular antibiotics used during ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion on the rate of shunt infection-a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The ventriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures. One of the avoidable complications of shunt surgery is shunt infection. This PRISMA-compliant meta-analysis analysed the effectiveness of topical and/or intraventricular antibiotics in preventing shunt infections in patients undergoing shunt surgery.

METHODS

Four databases were searched from inception to 30th June 2021. Only original articles comparing the rate of shunt infection with and without antibiotics were included. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to compare the effect of the use of antibiotics in preventing infection and subgroup analysis for finding differences in various antibiotics.

RESULTS

The rate of shunt infection was 2.24% (53 out of 2362) in the topical antibiotic group in comparison to 5.24% (145 out of 2764) in the control group (p = 0.008). Subgroup analysis revealed that there is no significant difference between the antibiotics used.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis found that the risk of shunt infection is significantly reduced with the use of topical and intraventricular antibiotics without any serious adverse effect. No side effects of topical or intraventricular antibiotics were reported in the included studies. Further prospective studies are required to establish the safety and optimal dosage of topical antibiotics for them to be used routinely in neurosurgical practice. They can be used in patients at high risk of developing shunt infections till such studies are available.

Factors associated with early shunt revision within 30 days: analyses from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

OBJECTIVE

CSF shunt insertion is the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedure for pediatric patients with hydrocephalus, and complications including infections and catheter obstruction are common. The rate of readmission in the first 30 days after surgery has been used across surgical disciplines to determine healthcare quality. In the current study, the authors sought to assess factors associated with early shunt revision within 30 days using real-world data.

METHODS

Targeted shunt data set participant user files of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) from 2016 to 2019 were queried for patients undergoing a shunt procedure. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the impact of demographics, etiologies, comorbidities, congenital malformations, and shunt adjuncts on shunt revision within 30 days, as well as shunt revision due to infection within 30 days.

RESULTS

A total of 3919 primary pediatric shunt insertions were identified in the NSQIP database, with a mean (± SD) patient age of 26.3 ± 51.6 months. There were a total of 285 (7.3%) unplanned shunt revisions within 30 days, with a mean duration of 14.9 ± 8.5 days to first intervention. The most common reason for intervention was mechanical shunt failure (32.6% of revision, 2.4% overall, n = 93), followed by infection (31.2% of all interventions, 2.3% overall, n = 89) and wound disruption or CSF leak (22.1% of all interventions, 1.6% overall, n = 63). Patients younger than 6 months of age had the highest overall unplanned 30-day revision rate (8.5%, 203/2402) as well as the highest 30-day shunt infection rate (3%, 72/2402). Patients who required a revision were also more likely to have a cardiac risk factor (34.7%, n = 99, vs 29.2%, n = 1061; p = 0.048). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that compared to patients 9-18 years old, those aged 2-9 years had significantly lower odds of repeat shunt intervention (p = 0.047), while certain etiologies including congenital hydrocephalus (p = 0.0127), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of prematurity (p = 0.0173), neoplasm (p = 0.0005), infection (p = 0.0004), and syndromic etiology (p = 0.0136), as well as presence of ostomy (p = 0.0095), were associated with higher odds of repeat intervention. For shunt infection, IVH of prematurity was found to be associated with significantly higher odds (p = 0.0427) of shunt infection within 30 days, while use of intraventricular antibiotics was associated with significantly lower odds (p = 0.0085).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study of outcomes after pediatric shunt placement using a nationally derived cohort, early shunt failure and infection within 30 days were found to remain as considerable risks. The analysis of this national surgical quality registry confirms that, in accordance with other multicenter studies, hydrocephalus etiology, age, and presence of ostomy are important predictors of the need for early shunt revision. IVH of prematurity is associated with early infections while intraventricular antibiotics may be protective. These findings could be used for benchmarking in hospital efforts to improve quality of care for pediatric patients with hydrocephalus.

Indian Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery Consensus Guidelines on Preventing and Managing Shunt Infection: Version 2020-21

Background

Shunt infection is the most significant morbidity associated with shunt surgery. Based on the existing literature for the prevention and management of shunt infection, region and resource-specific recommendations are needed.

Methods

In February 2020, a Guidelines Development Group (GDG) was created by the Indian Society of Paediatric Neurosurgery (IndSPN) to formulate guidelines on shunt infections, which would be relevant to our country and LMIC in general. An initial email survey identified existing practices among the membership of the IndSPN, and eight broad issues pertaining to shunt infection were identified. Next, members of the GDG performed a systematic review of the literature on the prevention and management of shunt infection. Then, through a series of virtual meetings of the GDG over 1 year, evidence from the literature was presented to all the members and consensus was built on different aspects of shunt infection. Finally, the guidelines document was drafted and circulated among the GDG for final approval. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was used to grade the evidence and strength of recommendation.

Results

The guidelines are divided into eight sections. Level I and Level II evidence was available for only five recommendations and led to a moderate level of recommendations. Most of the available evidence was at Level III and below, and hence the level of recommendation was low or very low. A consensus method was used to provide recommendations for several issues.

Conclusions

Although most of the recommendations for the prevention and management of shunt infections are based on a low level of evidence, we believe that this document will provide a useful reference to neurosurgeons not only in India but also in other low and middle income countries. These guidelines need to be updated as and when new evidence emerges.