• Raquel Gutiérrez-González, Gregorio R Boto, Cristina Fernández-Pérez, and Náyade del Prado.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario Clínico San Carlos, Prof, Matin Lagos s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. rgutierrezgonzalez@yahoo.es
• Bmc Neurol. 2010 Jan 1;10:93.

BackgroundInfection is a major complication of cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures. The present report assesses the efficacy of such catheters in both shunts and external ventricular drains (EVDs) against infection and particularly against Staphylococcus spp. infection.MethodsAll shunt and EVD procedures performed by means of antibiotic-impregnated catheters (AICs) and non-AICs during the period of study were registered. In cases of shunt procedures, a minimal follow-up of 90 days was considered, as well as de novo insertion and catheter revisions. Single valve revisions were not included. In cases of EVD procedures, those catheters removed before the fifth post-insertion day were not included. A total of 119 cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures performed with AICs were studied in comparison with 112 procedures performed by means of non-AICs.ResultsAntibiotic-impregnated catheters were associated with a significant decrease in both overall and staphylococcal infection (p = 0.030 and p = 0.045, respectively). The number needed to treat for AICs was 8 to prevent one infection and 14 to prevent one staphylococcal infection. When comparing with shunts, the use of EVDs was associated with a 37-fold increased likelihood of infection.ConclusionsAntibiotic-impregnated catheters are a safe and helpful tool to reduce CSF shunting device-related infections.

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