Table 1.

MEDLINE and EMBASE search strategy

1.	exp Ventriculostomy/
2.	(external adj25 ventricular).tw.
3.	(ventricular drain or ventricular catheter).tw.
4.	exp Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts/ or exp Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt/
5.	or/1-4
6.	exp Postoperative Complications/ or exp Surgical Wound Infection/ or exp Bacterial Infections/
7.	exp Antibiotic Prophylaxis/
8.	exp Cerebral Ventriculitis/ or exp Meningitis/
9.	ventriculitis.tw.
10.	(cerebrospinal adj25 infection).tw.
11.	or/6-10
12.	5 and 10