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Prevention of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections
Investigator (PI): Simon, Tamara Danielle
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): Seattle Children's Hospital, Center for Clinical and Translational Research / (206) 884-1331
Supporting Agency (SA): National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Initial Year: 2018
Final Year: 2021
Record Source/Award ID: RePorter/R01NS101029
Funding: 2018 Award Amount: $720,234
Award Type: Grant
Abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement allows children with hydrocephalus, a common cause of neurological disability in children, to survive and avoid ongoing brain injury. However, CSF shunts can frequently require surgical revision; and with each subsequent CSF shunt surgery, the risk of CSF shunt infection increases. The burden to children, families, and the health care system of over 2,000 CSF shunt infections annually in terms of costs, morbidity over the life span, and quality of life are substantial and preventable. Two novel perioperative techniques have emerged as recent advances to prevent CSF shunt infections: intrathecal instillation of broad spectrum antibiotics into the shunt during surgery and the use of antibiotic-impregnated shunt tubing, a more widespread, but expensive and controversial technique. The overall objective of this proposal is to determine the comparative effectiveness of intrathecal antibiotics and antibiotic-impregnated shunt tubing in the prevention of CSF shunt infection. Compared to a clinical trial, use of large databases to study relatively uncommon events permits us to capitalize upon the existence of comprehensive information about large numbers of diverse patients for efficient analyses. The Pediatric Health Information System + (PHIS+) database includes detailed administrative, laboratory, microbiology, and radiology data for 6 large pediatric neurosurgical centers from 2007 to 2012; and PHIS+ includes over 6,900 CSF shunt surgeries, with over 1,600 receiving intrathecal antibiotics, over 1,245 receiving antibiotic-impregnated shunt tubing, and over 2,700 receiving prophylactic intravenous antibiotics alone (standard care). Specific aim 1 will compare the risk of infection following the use of intrathecal antibiotics, antibiotic-impregnated shunt tubing, and standard care during CSF shunt surgery. The independent association of each novel technique compared to standard care, after adjusting for patient and procedure risk factors, with subsequent CSF shunt infection will be determined. We will also examine complications, length of stay, and readmissions. Specific aim 2 will determine the changes in infecting organism and patterns of antimicrobial resistance following the use of intrathecal antibiotics, antibiotic-impregnated shunt tubing, and standard care during CSF shunt surgery. Specific aim 3 will evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using intrathecal antibiotics, antibiotic-impregnated shunt tubing, and standard care during CSF shunt surgery for the prevention of CSF shunt infection using cost data from PHIS+. This proposal will rapidly fill a critical knowledge gap in prevention of CSF shunt infection, addresses a critical health care-associated infection, and its findings will rapidly be available for widespread dissemination.
MeSH Terms:
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents /therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents /chemistry
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts /*adverse effects
  • Child
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Data Collection
  • Databases, Factual
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus /complications
  • /*surgery
  • Injections, Spinal
  • Length of Stay
  • Patient Readmission
  • Pediatrics
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections /*epidemiology
  • /*prevention & control
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk
  • United States
Keywords:
  • United States
  • antibiotic resistance
  • antibiotics
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • cerebrospinal fluid shunts procedure
  • child
  • childhood
  • comparative effectiveness
  • compare effectiveness
  • cost-effectiveness
  • cost-effectiveness evaluation
  • databases
  • health care-associated infections
  • hospital readmission
  • hydrocephalus
  • infection prevention
  • length of stay
  • patients
  • perioperative
  • prevent
  • prevention
  • prophylactic
  • risk factors
  • standard care
Country: United States
State: Washington
Zip Code: 98121
UI: 20184026
Project Status: Ongoing