Incidence of Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Infection In Vancomycin-Drenched VP Shunts

Objective:  To determine the occurrence of infection in patients with VP (Ventriculoperitoneal) shunts that were drenched in vancomycin. Materials and Methods:  A descriptive case series study was done in The Department of Neurosurgery, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan from 10 September 2019 to 31 December 2020 to ascertain the frequency of VP shunt infections in vancomycin-drenched VP shunts. The patients were followed for 06 months. Results:  A total of 100 patients were included in this study. There were 44 (44%) men and 56 (56%) women. Age ranged from birth to 18 years. Patients younger than 1 year were 44 (44%), older than 1 to 10 years were 33 (33%) and older than 10 years were 23 (23%). Congenital hydrocephalus was the most common type observed in 49 (49%) patients. Shunt infection occurred in 7 patients (7%) within 6 months after surgery. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen identified in 05 of 07 (71%) infected patients. P value <0.05 was observed in Vancomycin-soaked VP shunts and shunt infection, which is significant. Conclusion:  The rate of shunt infection was significantly reduced when 2 mg/mL topical vancomycin was used intraoperatively (intra- and peri-shunt) in conjunction with a multi-step shunt infection prevention program. This treatment may be less expensive than using an antibiotic-impregnated catheter (AIC).