Postoperative infections in neurosurgery from 2018 to 2023 at the Center Hospitalier Universitaire et Départemental du Borgou et de l'Alibori (CHUD-B/A) in Benin Republic

Abstract

Introduction: Postoperative infections are the most common adverse events worldwide. They are concerning due to their high mortality rates. Objective: To study postoperative infections in neurosurgery department. Framework, Patients, and Method: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted over a six-year period from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023. It included all cases operated on in neurosurgery at CHUD B/A. Results: In this study, we collected data from 447 patients. The average age was 29.03±20.48 years. A male predominance was noted with a sex ratio (M/F) of 4.32. 17.23% of cases were admitted urgently to the operating room, with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) being the main reason (64.65%). Neurosurgical activity was dominated by TBI surgeries, accounting for 42.92% of hematoma evacuations. The frequency of postoperative infections was 3.80%, representing 17 cases. The most common infection was meningitis (41.17%), and an infectious syndrome was present in 64.71% of cases. In laboratory tests, 35.29% showed anemia, 76.47% had leukocytosis, and 100% had positive CRP results. The pathogens identified in the cultures (11.76%) included Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which were sensitive to lincosamides, C2G, or aminoglycosides. The most commonly used treatment was a combination of C3G and imidazoles (17.65%). The outcome was favorable for 12 patients, with 2 requiring reoperation. The overall mortality rate was 17.65%. Conclusion: Postoperative infections in neurosurgery are infrequent but can be severe when they occur.