Abstract: Objective To investigate the related factors of infection post ventricle-peritoneal shunt and explore some preventive measures.Methods 85 cases after ventricle-peritoneal shunt for normal pressure cranial hydrocephalus were analysed retrospectively. The effect of intensive prevention was observed. Results The overall infection rate was 7% after ventricle-peritoneal shunt. There was significant difference between the patients with or without infection post-operation in some factors, such as preoperative infection (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, intracranial infection, biliary infection); the operator; activities of daily living. It was 9.8% (6/61) under routine aseptic operation,and was 0 (0/24) under intensive management. Conclusion Infection after ventricle-peritoneal shunt is associated with many factors, especially the susceptibility and contact to infection. Intensive management can significantly prevent the infection.

Key words: normal pressure hydrocephalus, ventricle-peritoneal shunt, infection, prevention