British journal of neurosurgery
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Infection of intracranial catheters is a common complication of ICP monitoring. The introduction of a simple technique of ensheathing the entire length of the external segment of the catheter in a sterile plastic sheath resulted in a decreased infection rate. In the study year, one of 78 patients developed catheter-induced meningitis, compared with seven of 64 patients in the year prior to the introduction of the protective plastic sheath. The use of a plastic sheath resulted in a low rate of infection.