Semin Neurol 2019; 39(04): 507-514
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693107
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Neurosurgical Infections

Elie Sader
1   Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Justin Moore
2   Department of Neurosurgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
,
Anna M. Cervantes-Arslanian
3   Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Medicine (Infectious Disease), Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 September 2019 (online)

Abstract

Patients in the neurointensive care unit often undergo life-saving neurosurgical interventions that can be associated with serious complications. Infection is a common and sometimes fatal complication of such procedures. Infection may occur not only in the setting of major cranial and spinal surgery, but also with common minor procedures that utilize neurosurgical devices, such as placement of external ventricular drains, ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and deep brain stimulators. In this article, we review the epidemiology and microbiology of these infections, and discuss their general and procedure-specific risk factors and treatment options.

 
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