Analysis of Vacuum-Assisted Closure-Assisted Antibiotic Irrigation in Treatment of Severe Neurosurgical Central Nervous System Infections.

Severe neurosurgical central nervous system infections (sNCNSIs) are among the most serious complications of neurosurgical disease. Conventional methods have shown a poor prognosis. This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in sNCNSIs with the help of antibiotic irrigation treatment. A retrospective study was performed for patients diagnosed with sNCNSIs. A VAC device was placed on the incision after debridement and the surgical cavity was rinsed with antibiotic agents in the VAC group. Meanwhile the surgical cavity was drained after debridement in the control group. Medical data were reviewed and analyzed. Twenty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria, including 18 cases in the VAC group and 10 cases in the control group. The basic medical data showed no differences. Bacteria was isolated from 24 (85.7%) patients. The cure rate was significantly higher in the VAC group (p < 0.05). The cure rate in patients with multi-drug-resistant (MDR) infections was significantly higher in patients treated with VAC therapy (p < 0.05). The prognosis evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) between the two groups showed significant difference (p < 0.05). No re-infection in the VAC group occurred in the follow-up period. It is suggested that VAC-assisted antibiotic irrigation is safe and effective for patients with severe NCNSIs and can improve the prognosis dramatically. The results can provide a new effective and reasonable therapeutic strategy for patients with sNCNSIs.