Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: Patients will be enrolled in the study if they meet all the following criteria: * Age Range: Paediatric patients from birth (neonates) up to 18 years of age. * Indication: Patients undergoing primary (first-time) Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion. * Aetiology: Hydrocephalus due to congenital causes, post-haemorrhagic, or post-inflammatory origins. * Consent: Written informed consent provided by the parents or legal guardians. Exclusion Criteria: To ensure that the infection rate is strictly related to the surgical procedure and not to external chronic factors, patients with the following will be excluded: * Tumor-related Hydrocephalus: Due to the impact of malignancy, chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression, or potential radiotherapy on wound integrity. * Co-morbidities: Patients with Diabetes Mellitus, chronic renal failure, or known immunodeficiency disorders (to isolate paediatric physiological response). * Active Infection: Clinical or laboratory evidence of systemic sepsis or meningitis at the time of surgery. * Hypersensitivity: Known history of allergy to Vancomycin. * Revision Surgery: Patients undergoing shunt revision or replacement due to previous infection within the last 3 months. * Local Skin Issues: Active dermatitis or infection at any of the planned incision sites. * Complex Hydrocephalus: Patients requiring additional concurrent neurosurgical procedures (e.g., tumor biopsy, Chiari decompression, or cyst fenestration) to avoid prolonged operative time as a confounding risk factor for infection."