Ascites as first presentation of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt infection in a neonate

Abstract

Infection is a common complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and ascites is one of the rare manifestations of shunt infection. We report a neonate in whom shunt infection is presented only by ascites. The causative organism, coagulase negative staphylococci, was detected only in the cerebrospinal fluid although peritoneal fluid analysis was consistent with infection. Our patient shows the importance of considering shunt infection when unexplained ascites is the first and only manifestation in neonates with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.