CSF shunt infection management in adult age.

This retrospective study of nine patients in whom infection developed following operation for placement of an extrathecal drainage shunt, although it is not a complete biometric evaluation, shows an incidence of infection (10.5%) that corresponds with averages reported from other centers [7, 15--17]. Furthermore, it points out the limitations of antibiotic treatment when three significant aspects of therapy are not considered fully: 1) sensitivity of the identified organism, 2) CSF level of drug that can be achieved, and 3) pharmacokinetic action of drug in CSF.