Revision and Infection Rate in 728 Shunt-Treated Adult Hydrocephalus Patients-a Single-Center Retrospective Study

Hydrocephalus is a common diagnosis worldwide that is treated with shunts and is associated with potential life-threatening risks of shunt dysfunction and infection. We investigated differences in rates of shunt revisions and infections including various factors in patients with different causes of hydrocephalus. We also studied causes of infections and efficacy of perioperative antibiotic regimens. Our objective was to identify patients at risk of higher revision and infection rates after shunt treatment.

We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study including 728 adult patients who underwent shunt surgery between 2013 and 2019 at our center.

Overall revision rate was 20.1%, and infection rate was 4.8%. Infection was detected in 24% of all revisions. The main location for a positive culture was cerebrospinal fluid (67.5%), frequently caused by Cutibacterium acnes (60%). Younger age and prior shunts were the only predictors confirmed in multivariate Cox regression as significantly increasing the risk of revision surgery. Multivariate Cox regression analysis of infection risk factors showed that obstructive hydrocephalus, prior shunt, and cloxacillin significantly increased risk of shunt infection.

We found revision and infection rates in accordance with other studies. We showed a significantly increased risk in younger patients. Previous shunts also increased the risk of revisions and infections. We showed a small but significant effect of perioperative prophylaxis with broader-spectrum antibiotics compared with cloxacillin. Our study identified a group of younger patients with congenital hydrocephalus and prior implants with an increased risk of shunt infection in whom additional preventive measures should be employed.