Criteria for Diagnosis of Venticuloperitoneal Shunt Infection

Criteria for the diagnosis of a shunt infection:

(1) positive culture

(2) clinical signs and symptoms

Positive culture - one or more of the following:

(1) ventricular fluid

(2) culture of shunt tube or reservoir

(3) peripheral blood

Clinical signs and symptoms:

(1) fever

(2) peritonitis with abdominal tenderness

(3) meningitis

(4) signs of infection along the shunt track

(5) signs of increased intracranial pressure (headache, vomiting, altered mental status, seizures)

Most shunt infections occur within a few weeks of surgery on the shunt.

Limitations:

• Sampling problems, indolent infection or limited culturing may result in false negative cultures.