Ventriculostomy-Associated Infection : Analysis of Risk Factors and the Venue of External Ventricular Drainage

Choi, Jong Moon; Cho, Do Sang; Jin, Sung Chul; Kim, Sung Hak; Park, Dong Been; Kim, Young Rae

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the risk factors for ventriculostomy-associated infections (VAI) and to examine the differences among VAI according to the venue of catheter placement in our institute. Materials and
METHODS
During a four-year period, 114 patients of the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NICU) who received an external ventricular drainage (EVD), were retrospectively studied. The use of prophylactic systemic antibiotics was not included in the evaluation of the risk factors for VAI, because this was applied to all patients in our trial.
RESULTS
One hundred sixty-five catheters were placed, in 114 patients, among whom 7.9% developed ventriculitis. The risk of VAI was not significantly associated with age, intial Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score, indication for the catheter, craniotomy, duration of catheter, DM, hypertension and repeated catheter insertion. Furthermore, EVD catheterization in non-operating places was not associated with a trend toward higher VAI as well.
CONCLUSION
Risk factors for an increased incidence of VAI were not observed in our trials. In our study, the risk of VAI was not associated with the venue of catheter placement. These findings suggest that EVD catheter insertion in non-operating places may be a safe procedure without the risk of VAI.