Management of Recurrent Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections in Adult Patients.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and microbiological features of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) infections through a 13-year retrospective study. VPS bacterial agents and their antibiotic susceptibility were also investigated through the occurrence of single VPS (SVPS) and recurrent VPS (RVPS) infections.

Methods

This study included 110 patients with SVPS infections and 55 patients with RVPS infections.

Results

In patients who developed multiple infections, Gram-negative organisms were found to be the most predominant (60%, 54/90). The resistance rates were 85.2% for third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs), 83.3% for piperacillin-tazobactam, and 10.4% for carbapenem. Of the patients in the SVPS infection group, 49% were treated with combinations with carbapenem; of the patients in the RVPS infection group, 84.4% were treated in the same way. Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis as the etiology of hydrocephalus; short duration of antibiotics used for treatment; high cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and blood C-reactive protein (CRP) levels; and prolonged use of prophylactic antibiotics were found to be related to an increased rate of recurrent infection occurrence. A two-stage shunt change approach decreased the risk of recurrent infections.

Conclusions

Based on the findings of our study, it is essential to closely monitor patients with independent risk factors for RVPS infection development, due to the high rates of resistant Gram-negative bacterial growth and the initiation of empirical antimicrobial treatment with glycopeptide plus carbapenem. Certain treatment options, such as 3GCs plus glycopeptide, should be revised based on clinical progress and microbiological culture results.