E-Mail karger@karger.com Original Paper Pediatr Neurosurg 2013;49:75–80 DOI: 10.1159/000357384 Determinants and Outcomes of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections in Enugu, Nigeria E.O. Uche E. Onyia U.C. Mezue E. Okorie I.I. Ozor M.C. Chikani Neurological Surgery Unit, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria the most common pathogen. The mortality rate in our series was 21.4% in patients with SI compared to 2.7% in those without SI. Conclusion: Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus is currently the most common cause of SI and underweight children appear have a higher risk. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel Introduction Although ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement remains the mainstay of surgical treatment for hydro- cephalus, infection has become a formidable cause of morbidity and mortality in hydrocephalic children treat- ed with a VP shunt [1]. Although the source of infection is quite often the patient’s skin, other foci may also con- tribute significantly. Early detection coupled with prompt institution of appropriate intervention has prov- en to be the determinant of successful treatment out- comes in the experience of many a neurosurgeon. This study aims to evaluate the determinants of shunt infec- tion (SI), the microbial and treatment patterns, and the outcome of treatment in a reemerging neurological sur- gery unit in Southeastern Nigeria. Key Words Ventriculoperitoneal shunt · Shunt infection · Risk factors · Outcome Abstract Background: To evaluate the determinants and outcomes of shunt infection (SI). Methods: One hundred ninety-eight pe- diatric hydrocephalic patients treated with a ventriculoperi- toneal (VP) shunt between January 2008 and August 2012 were retrospectively studied. Patients with SI were com- pared to those without SI in terms of the occurrence of risk factors and outcomes. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 15). Re- sults: The age range was 2 weeks to 13 years, with a mean age of 3.1 ± 0.19 years for the SI group versus 2.7 ± 0.2 years for those without SI. One hundred and twelve patients were female and 86 were male. SI was recorded in 17 (8.6%) pa- tients. Postinfective hydrocephalus (n = 6) was the most common cause of hydrocephalus in the SI group. Individuals in the SI group, compared to those without infection, were more likely to be underweight (χ 2 = 23.4, p < 0.01). The mean interval between VP shunt placement and SI was 1.83 ± 1.25 months. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (29.4%) was Received: May 31, 2013 Accepted after revision: October 10, 2013 Published online: January 9, 2014 Dr. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche Lecturer/Consultant Neurosurgeon Department of Surgery, College of Medicine University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu (Nigeria) E-Mail kechyenny  @  yahoo.com © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel 1016–2291/14/0492–0075$39.50/0 www.karger.com/pne