RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Infection of the intracranial catheter remains the main morbidity and mortality associated with this procedure. In this retrospective study we have collected the information regarding the occurrence of this disease in order to find ways to reduce the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) infection related to an intracranial indwelling catheter. METHOD: In a six-year retrospective study we selected and reviewed the records of 242 patients (with a total of 314 catheters). We analyzed the incidence of infection, etiologic bacteria and factors affecting the risk of infection: catheter duration, catheter sequence, concurrent craniotomy, subcutaneous tunneling of catheter, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) draining catheter, urokinase irrigation. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were infected. the infection rate was thus 8%. Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus are the most frequently-involved pathogens. The onset of infection ranged from 6 days to 38 days (with a mean of 14 days). There was a significant association between infection and a CSF draining catheter, a concurrent craniotomy, no subcutaneous tunneling, the duration of the catheter and multiple sequential catheters in the univariate logistic regression model. There was, however, no significant association between a CSF draining catheter and infection in the multivariate logistic regression model. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggests that long catheter duration, no subcutaneous tunneling, multiple sequential catheters, concurrent craniotomy increase the incidence of CNS infection related to an intracranial indwelling catheter. An intracranial catheter must be placed using aseptic procedures with subcutaneous tunneling and maintenance of a strict closed system alsoshort duration as possible as.