We describe the process of establishing a large database for the investigation of craniotomy infection and the preliminary results of this database. The initial results have been used to generate a cost analysis for craniotomy infection. The craniotomy infections database prospectively registers craniotomy cases taking place in the John Radcliffe Hospital. In order to achieve this, each patient's details are registered at the time of operation and followed up to identify cases of infection. Infection was defined strictly according to Centre for Disease Control criteria and validated by at least two members of clinical staff. The first 10 months of data are presented here which identifies a total of 245 craniotomies and 20 verified craniotomy infections. An overall infection rate of 8% is identified, and the cost incurred by the neurosurgery department as a result of craniotomy infections is estimated at £1 85 660 for the 10-month period studied. This amounts to a cost per case of infection of £9283.

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Background: Rhinosinusitis-induced brain abscesses are rare but can result in devastating long-term sequalae and mortality; they require a high index of suspicion with early imaging to start early empiric parenteral antibiotic treatment covering aerobes and anaerobes. Methodology: Our study was a retrospective analysis on 32 patients who were treated at Oxford University Hospitals for rhinosinusitis-induced brain abscess between February 2013 and June 2020. Results: Mean age of presentation was 45.83 for adults and 11.14 for children. Subdural collection was the most frequent abscess but 25% of patients had multiple sites of collection; the majority were in the frontal lobe. The most commonly identified pathogens were Streptococcus milleri group and Staphylococcus aureus; 93.75% of the patients were treated with combined Ceftriaxone and Metronidazole for an average of 8 weeks. Conclusions: In our series most patients received also a prompt and aggressive surgical treatment with combined neurosurgical and ENT procedures in the majority; this was especially important in case of subdural empyema, Streptococcus milleri infection and direct intracranial spread of infection. More than half of the patients were treated with a single surgical procedure. Despite aggressive treatment, one third of patients experienced long-term neurological sequelae; there were no deaths.

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