Risk factors and countermeasures for intracranial infection after craniotomy

Objective To investigate the risk factors and countermeasures for intracranial infection after craniotomy.Methods The clinical data of 1320 patients(38 patients with intracranial infection) who underwent the craniotomy from January 1996 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 38 patients with intracranial infection after the craniotomy,31 cases were cured,7 cases died.Conclusions Multiple factors are related to the postoperative intracranial infection.The high-risk factors related to postoperative intracranial infection including the leakage of cerebroaspinal fluid,operation of open brain injuries and at the posterior cranial fossa,drainage outside the ventricle.Properly targeted handling during and after the surgery will help to reduce the incidence of intracranial infections. Key words: Craniotomy ;  Intracranial infection ;  Risk factors