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Updated: Aug 20, 2026

Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
07:26

Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model

Published on: July 1, 2018

Infections of mechanical cerebrospinal fluid shunts

P Gardner, T J Leipzig, M Sadigh

    Current Clinical Topics in Infectious Diseases
    |January 1, 1988
    PubMed

    Insights

    Shunt infections, a major complication of hydrocephalus treatment, often occur within two months post-surgery. Needle aspiration is key for diagnosis, with removal and antibiotics as the standard treatment.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurosurgery
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Biomedical Engineering

    Background:

    • Hydrocephalus affects thousands annually, necessitating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement.
    • Ventricular shunt infections, though reduced, remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
    • Common culprits include skin flora like S. epidermidis, often colonizing during surgery.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of CSF shunt infections.
    • To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and effective management strategies.
    • To explore emerging alternative therapies and future research directions.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing literature on CSF shunt infections.
    • Analysis of common infecting organisms and their pathogenic mechanisms.
    • Evaluation of current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

    Main Results:

    • Shunt infections occur most frequently within two months post-operation, often due to skin flora colonization.
    • Fever is the most consistent clinical sign; needle aspiration is the most reliable diagnostic tool.
    • Standard treatment involves shunt removal, systemic antibiotics, and re-implantation.

    Conclusions:

    • Prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial for managing shunt infections.
    • Novel therapeutic strategies, including antibiotic instillation and distal shunt revision, show promise.
    • Further research into new shunt materials and antibiotics is warranted to prevent and treat these infections.

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