Antibiotic prophylaxis in neurosurgery. The controlled trials

Abstract

Systemic antibiotics are effective in reducing the risk of infection after clean neurosurgical procedures. They are less effective in preventing shunt infection, but are strongly recommended in institutions experiencing a shunt infection rate exceeding 15%. The role for antibiotic prophylaxis using topical agents and in the prevention of meningitis associated with cerebrospinal fluid drainage is uncertain.