Who else has a child who got a shunt infection?

[jveprek]

I brought Madi in when she was 3 weeks old because she was fussy, didn't want to eat, etc... Turns out her shunt was infected with Staff. We aren't sure if it's from the initial surgery (they closed her back and did the shunt at the same time, which isn't standard practice I guess) or if it's from something else. We've been in the hospital now for a week and 2 days. We had finally started getting our infection-free days when we got another positive. They decided to change her external shunt and so we are praying for negatives so we can begin our count again. We won't be home for Christmas but I hope to be home by the 28th of December, which is my husband's birthday. I have another child who is 23 months old. I see him every day because I either pump and leave my mom or MIL with Madi for a few hours, or my hubby brings him down. Our family helps watch him during the day while my hubby works. It's not been easy, but we are getting through it.


If you have had a shunt infection, did it happen again, and if so, how much longer? What things do you do at home to try to prevent it from happening (I was told I can't do anything, but feel like I need to do something :)). Any advice for me?

[Summer25]

I brought Madi in when she was 3 weeks old because she was fussy, didn't want to eat, etc... Turns out her shunt was infected with Staff. We aren't sure if it's from the initial surgery (they closed her back and did the shunt at the same time, which isn't standard practice I guess) or if it's from something else. We've been in the hospital now for a week and 2 days. We had finally started getting our infection-free days when we got another positive. They decided to change her external shunt and so we are praying for negatives so we can begin our count again. We won't be home for Christmas but I hope to be home by the 28th of December, which is my husband's birthday. I have another child who is 23 months old. I see him every day because I either pump and leave my mom or MIL with Madi for a few hours, or my hubby brings him down. Our family helps watch him during the day while my hubby works. It's not been easy, but we are getting through it.


If you have had a shunt infection, did it happen again, and if so, how much longer? What things do you do at home to try to prevent it from happening (I was told I can't do anything, but feel like I need to do something :)). Any advice for me?

Hi! I had a shunt infection at the age of 12 after a bladder surgery. I was in the hospital with it for a month and a half. All you can do is look out for signs of another infection or malfunction. I had about 6 or 7 malfunctions after my infection, so I was in and out of the hospital for 3 months after that. They put a different kind of shunt in to try and keep the infection from coming back since mine was so serious. None of my doctors or even the infectious disease doctor had ever seen an infection like mine in a shunt. However, with your little one it will be different since they usually only use VP shunts. I haven't had an infection since. I hope she gets better soon!

[LisaJoy]

I know you're really needing something you can be proactive and do, but I think you have to trust them when they say there's nothing you can do at home to prevent this. From what little I've read about staph infections, they are most commonly acquired in the hospital or in other institutional settings, such as athletic locker rooms in schools -- it is actually a major public health problem. So, ironically, while your baby obviously has to be treated in the hospital for this infection, the safest place for her is probably right at home with you!

[jveprek]

I know you're really needing something you can be proactive and do, but I think you have to trust them when they say there's nothing you can do at home to prevent this. From what little I've read about staph infections, they are most commonly acquired in the hospital or in other institutional settings, such as athletic locker rooms in schools -- it is actually a major public health problem. So, ironically, while your baby obviously has to be treated in the hospital for this infection, the safest place for her is probably right at home with you!

That's what I was told... though it just makes me feel useless in helping :).

[jefwan]

There really is nothing you can do! Most staph infections occur post-op, or in a crowded situation, as has already been posted. My daughter got an infected shunt right after 9/11! What a nightmare, a newly secured hospital, and an emergency shunt operation! But she survived. She had meningitis with hers, as it went all the way in, instead of staying in the shunt. That was a while back, and all of her subsequent revisions have been due to failure of the shunt, not infections. (That noise was me knocking wood!)

[claire]

do u know much about shunt blocking does it happen much. my little baby boy has his in eleven months and has no trouble so far thank god. and i also wanted to know can they smach easely.

[Summer25]

They can get blocked easily. I watched my ICP get blocked numerous times when I was in the hospital for the shunt infection. Not sure what you mean by smach though?

[happygirl]

well shunt is very effective but not that safe because you can get an infection sometimes so you need a hydrocephalus specialist..