A standardized infection prevention bundle for reduction of CSF shunt infections in adult ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery performed without antibiotic-impregnated catheters

Abstract

The implementation of a standardized shunt infection prevention bundle within the adult population, without the use of antibiotic-impregnated catheters, significantly reduced the rate of shunt infections which was sustained over many years. The use of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol for preoperative antisepsis may have played a significant role. Multicenter studies should be completed to verify the effectiveness of the authors' protocol.