Gowrishankar et al reviewed studies of meningitis following cochlear implantation. They identified factors associated with a low risk for nosocomial meningitis. The authors are from the University of Cambridge and the University of Breschia.
Patient selection: cochlear implantation
Study: meta-analysis
Risk of meningitis in the general population: 0.02%
Rate of meningitis after cochlear implant: 0.03% to 0.1%
Factors associated with lower risk for meningitis:
(1) pneumococcal vaccination
(2) postoperative acute otitis media
(3) age at implantation < 5 years
(4) electrode insertion with a round window or cochleostomy technique
(5) antibiotic prophylaxis
(6) implantation without positioners
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