Risk factors in postoperative neurosurgical infection

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Abstract
Four hundred and seventy patients who had undergone neurosurgical operations were studied prospectively. After defining postoperative infection so that is included all the infective complications irrespective of location occuring after surgery, the overall infection rate was 17%. The infection rate in 413 cases without pre-existing infection was 15%. Wound infection was recorded in 5% and meningitis in 6%. Risk factors which lead to a significant increase in the incidence of postoperative infection were found to be altered sensorium, multiple operations, pre-existing infection, emergency surgery, duration of surgery more than 4 hours, urinary catheterisation, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and ventilatory support.