Objective  To observe the effect of "four-step flushing method" disinfection on preventing intracranial infection after ventriculoperitoneal shunt in patients with hydrocephalus.

  Methods  The clinical materials of 210 hydrocephalus patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt in the ward of Department of Neurosurgery in Haikou City People′s Hospital from June 2011 to June 2021 were collected, 113 patients from June 2011 to June 2016 were included in control group, and the 97 patients from July 2016 to June 2021 were included in observation group. The observation group was conducted with "four-step flushing method" disinfection, and the control group was conducted with routine skin preparation disinfection. Incidence of perioperative intracranial infection, hospital stay and hospitalization expenses were compared between the two groups, and the influencing factors of intracranial infection after ventriculoperitoneal shunt were analyzed.

  Results  Incidence of intracranial infection was 15.0% in the control group and 6.2% in the observation group. The hospital stay and hospitalization expenses of the observation group were (15.1±4.2) d and (48 408.0±3 682.0) Yuan Renminbi (RMB), which were significantly lower than (17.2±4.1) d and (54 798.0±3 657.0) yuan RMB of the control group (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the use of "four-step flushing method" disinfection, the severity of hydrocephalus and the operation time were the influencing factors of intracranial infection (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion  The "four-step flushing method" disinfection can reduce the incidence of intracranial infection after ventriculoperitoneal shunt in patients with hydrocephalus, improve the prognosis, shorten the postoperative hospital stay, reduce the complication-related mortality and alleviate the economic burden of patients.