Patient selection: postcraniotomy
Outcome: meningitis
Most common pathogens:
(1) Staphylococcus aureus
(2) Acinetobacter baumannii
Key risk factors for nosocomial postcraniotomy meningitis (odds ratio 4.6 to 6.0):
(1) emergency surgery (odds ratio 4.8)
(2) cerebrospinal fluid leak (odds ratio 4.6)
(3) external ventricular drainage (odds ratio 4.7)
(4) trauma (odds ratio 6.0)
Additional risk factors (odds ratios 1.6 to 2.7)
(1) age > 65 years (odds ratio 1.6)
(2) drain placement > 72 hours (odds ratio 2.7)
(3) admitted to the ICU (odds ratio 2.4)
(4) surgical duration > 4.5 hours (odds ratio 2.4)
(5) repeat operation (odds ratio 2.7)
The risk of meningitis increases with the number of risk factors present.
Postcraniotomy was associated with an increased 30-day mortality.
