The use of intraventricular vancomycin in the treatment of CSF shunt-associated ventriculitis.

Ten cases of shunt-associated ventriculitis treated with intraventricular vancomycin are described. Eight were cured of their infection, one of these without shunt removal, though this failed in another instance. There were no toxic or untoward effects except in one case, where intravenous administration of vancomycin produced a histamine-like reaction. Intraventricular vancomycin, preferably combined with oral rifampicin, should be considered in cases of intractable or problematic shunt-associated ventriculitis due to Gram-positive organisms.