Behavior of infections in the Neurosurgery Service of "Dr.Miguel Enríquez" Clinical and Surgical Hospital

Abstract

Introduction:  In the history of Medicine, the study of infections dates from 1546 and extends to the present.  The surgical approach of the Nervous System and the subsequent hospital stay makes this entity a constant threat for surgical success. 
Objective: To describe the behavior of infections in the Neurosurgery Service of "Dr. MiguelEnríquez" University Hospital. 
Material and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 108 patients admitted to the Neurosurgery Service of "Dr.Miguel Enríquez" University Hospital who had infectious diseases from March 2013 to August 2015.  The universe was composed of all patients older than 18 years of age, of both sexes, who were admitted to the service from different hospital areas: Emergency Room, Intermediate and Intensive Care Units, or directly admitted to the ward.  Information was collected and included in a database, which compiled data such as number of the clinical history, age, sex, diagnosis, type of infection, indicated microbiological study, and the isolated germ. Tables of frequencies were built.
Results: In this series, there was a predominance of the male sex (66.7 %) in relation to the female sex (33.3 %); the age group at highest risk was between the fourth and the sixth decades of life (75 %); the most isolated germs were Staphylococcus aureus (18.5 %), Klebsiella (7.4 %), and Echerichia Coli.  The most indicated studies for the diagnosis were the culture of secretions (56.48 %), and blood cultures (19.4 %). 
Conclusions: The male sex was the most frequent one. Age ranges from 41-60 and over 60 years of age were the most infected groups. The most isolated germs were Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae and Echerichia coli. The most indicated studies for the diagnosis were the culture of secretions and blood cultures. The most frequent diagnosis was Chronic Subdural Hematoma.  The type of sepsis was respiratory sepsis, and phlebitis. 

Keywords: cranial pathology, medullary pathology, infectious germs, traumatic lesions.