Volume 30, Issue 170, April 2026

Operation-Related Infection Prevention in Neurosurgical Procedures - A Review

Maja Czerniachowska^1♦, Maja Kondratowicz², Kamila Kałamarz³, Kinga Żmuda⁴, Maciej Świerczyna⁵, Aleksandra Fizgał³, Marcin Kaniewski², Martyna Wojnowska⁶, Wiktoria Polkowska⁷, Michał Grabek³

¹Medical University of Łódź, al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
²The Independent Public Hospital No. 4, Lublin, Poland
³Karol Marcinkowski University Hospital, Zyty 26, 65-046 Zielona Góra, Poland
⁴University Clinical Hospital of Opole al.W.Witosa 26 45-401 Opole, Poland
⁵Ministry of the Interior and Administration Hospital, Północna 42, 91-425 Łódź, Poland
⁶Mikolaj Pirogov Provincial Specialist Hospital, Wólczańska 191/195, 90-001 Łódź, Poland
⁷Central Clinical Hospital, Medical University of Łódź, Pomorska 251, 90-213 Łódź, Poland

^♦Corresponding author
Maja Czerniachowska, Medical University of Łódź, al. Kościuszki 4, 90-419 Łódź, Poland

ABSTRACT

Similar to other medical procedures, neurosurgical operations carry a risk of complications, especially infections, which occur in 0.7% to 12% of cases. Such complications increase morbidity rates across patients, prolong hospital stays, and incur unnecessary costs for hospitals. A comprehensive knowledge of the characteristics of the etiology of such infections, methods of prophylaxis, as well as antibiotic treatment, is crucial in preventing infections and making the procedures safer for patients. Currently, prevention of post-surgical infections relies on antibiotic prophylaxis, utilizing medications such as intravenous cefalosporins (cefazolin, ceftriaxone) or powdered vancomycin – data show that such treatment significantly reduces infection rates post-surgery. High-grade data also reveal that intraoperative wound irrigation with antibiotic or antiseptic solutions helps reduce such complications. The purpose of this study is to analyse the most common methods for preventing infection in neurosurgery, compare the effectiveness of different approaches, and highlight areas for further research.

Keywords: Neurosurgery, infection, prevention, antibiotics

Medical Science, 2026, 30, e71ms3799

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Published: 12 April 2026