Hi, my name is Joanne. my Dad has NPH - his first shunt operation was like a miracle in that his walking and balance were fantastic- then he had a cerebral bleed and shunt had to be stopped and taken out. A few months later he had another shunt, but that one became infected- a 6 wk course if antibiotic via a drip, then the shunt was taken out - more antibiotics. No bacteria were able to be grown from the fluid of a lumbar puncture, but were able to grow a yeast from the shunt. A few months later, he had another shunt, this too became infected....after another course of intravenous antibiotics the shunt was removed..more antibiotics...a prolonged stay in hospital to find the cause of continued low grade infection exhibited by above average white blood cell count... No bacteria or yeast has since been grown from from the fluid of subsequent lumbar punctures. At present the doctors have sent him into care ( cannot walk unaided ) with continued use of oral antibiotics - until the low grade infection has gone...before they will consider another shunt.
My question is, what kind of tests should I be asking them to do , so that they can isolate the cause of the infection.
Please help- many thanks