Stacey Podkovik, Chuan Zhou, Susan E Coffin, Matthew Hall, Jason S Hauptman, Matthew P Kronman, Francesco T Mangano, Ian F Pollack, Sabrina Sedano, Joaquin Vega, Joshua K Schaffzin, Emily Thorell, Benjamin C Warf, Kathryn B Whitlock, Tamara D Simon
BACKGROUND: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts allow children with hydrocephalus to survive and avoid brain injury (J Neurosurg 107:345-57, 2007; Childs Nerv Syst 12:192-9, 1996). The Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network implemented non-randomized quality improvement protocols that were shown to decrease infection rates compared to pre-operative prophylactic intravenous antibiotics alone (standard care): initially with intrathecal (IT) antibiotics between 2007-2009 (J Neurosurg Pediatr 8:22-9, 2011), followed by antibiotic impregnated catheters (AIC) in 2012-2013 (J Neurosurg Pediatr 17:391-6, 2016)...
May 11, 2024: BMC Pediatrics