Only antibiotic-impregnated suture , a no-shave policy , and double gloving with glove change prior to shunt h and ling , were associated with a significant reduction in shunt infection .
In a hospital with high methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) prevalence , a r and omized controlled trial found that perioperative vancomycin rather than cefazolin significantly reduced shunt infection rates .
Conclusion Despite wide variation in compliance rates , the implementation of comprehensive surgical protocol s reduced shunt infection in all published studies .
Antibiotic-impregnated suture , a no-shave policy , double gloving with glove change prior to device manipulation , and 5 % chlorhexidine hair wash were associated with significant reductions in shunt infection
Purpose Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection is associated with patient morbidity and high cost .
We conducted a systematic review of the current evidence of comprehensive surgical protocol s or individual interventions design ed to reduce shunt infection incidence .
Vancomycin versus cefazolin prophylaxis for cerebrospinal shunt placement in a hospital with a high prevalence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
International guidelines suggest that a high prevalence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) infections should influence the use of vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis . In order to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of vancomycin versus cefazolin as antimicrobial prophylaxis for insertion of cerebrospinal fluid ( CSF ) shunts , a r and omised prospect i ve clinical trial was performed . Over a 16-month period , all consecutive adult patients who underwent CSF shunt insertion at a university hospital with a high prevalence of MRSA infections were included . Patients were r and omly allocated to receive either vancomycin or cefazolin before surgery and followed-up for four weeks for the development of infections . Of the 176 patients included in the study , 88 received vancomycin and 88 cefazolin .  Shunt infections were significantly less likely to be observed in patients who were on vancomycin prophylaxis ( 4 % vs 14 % ; P=0.03 ) . All isolated staphylococci were resistant to meticillin . Mortality of patients with post-surgical infections was higher in the cefazolin group ( P=0.02 ) . Our data suggest that use of vancomycin as prophylactic agent for cerebrospinal shunt placement reduces the rate of shunt infections in the context of high prevalence of MRSA
Only antibiotic-impregnated suture , a no-shave policy , and double gloving with glove change prior to shunt h and ling , were associated with a significant reduction in shunt infection .
In a hospital with high methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) prevalence , a r and omized controlled trial found that perioperative vancomycin rather than cefazolin significantly reduced shunt infection rates .
Conclusion Despite wide variation in compliance rates , the implementation of comprehensive surgical protocol s reduced shunt infection in all published studies .
Antibiotic-impregnated suture , a no-shave policy , double gloving with glove change prior to device manipulation , and 5 % chlorhexidine hair wash were associated with significant reductions in shunt infection
Purpose Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection is associated with patient morbidity and high cost .
We conducted a systematic review of the current evidence of comprehensive surgical protocol s or individual interventions design ed to reduce shunt infection incidence .