Shunt fluid aspiration: an adjunct in the diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection
M. G. Myers and S. C. Schoenbaum
Bacterial isolates were obtained from 42 of 59 cultures of shunt fluid
aspirated from patients with infected cerebrospinal fluid shunts. The
etiologic agent was recovered from 24 to 25 aspirates from patients who
were not receiving antibiotics and from 18 of 34 aspirates from patients
who were receiving antibiotics. Aspiration, culture, and Gram stain of
shunt fluid should be considered in patients suspected of having a shunt
infection.
