Shunt Tunnel Infection

see also Shunt infection.

Tunnel infections are well-described clinical entities occurring with indwelling catheters, whereby the indwelling tunnel portion of a line becomes externally infected with a sterile central lumen. These infections are typically treated with line replacement or antibiotics depending on clinical circumstances.

Pease et al., describe 2 cases of shunt tunnel infection. Both cases presented as erythema over the thoracic portion of the shunt without signs of Central nervous system infection, with only a remote history of shunt surgery and no recent systemic illness. One case was treated with a course of antibiotics, and the other with surgical removal and eventual replacement. Both children made full recoveries. This case series juxtaposes 2 alternative successful strategies for treating the rare entity of shunt tunnel infection ¹⁾.